TOON legend Alan Shearer showed up to put a smile on the faces of these
children.
The Match of the Day pundit presented a brand new minibus to school pupils,
after fundraising by two Tyneside hotels.
Youngsters from Barndale House School, in Alnwick, were handed the keys by big
Al after Hotels Malmaison and Du vin raised the cash in a number of
fundraising events.
The hotels teamed up with the Variety Club – a children’s charity which helps
sick, disabled and disadvantaged children throughout the UK – to raise the
funds for the specially-adapted minibus.
Shearer arrived at Malmaison, Newcastle to unveil the 16-seater to excited
pupils and their teachers, from the school, which caters for children with
special needs.
The former Newcastle striker said: “You can see what this means to the kids.
They were really excited when I handed the keys over and they loved getting
their pictures taken.
“I am never tired of doing things like this, it’s always a pleasure.
“It’s just my way of trying to give something back to society.”
Pupils from the school rely on the bus for their everyday activities and it
has become their lifeline.
Headteacher Les Gair said: “The bus is in constant use for a
range of activities.
“During the school day the bus will be used to take the children on
educational visits. And it will be used on evenings and weekends by our
respite facility.
“As a school we could not afford to buy a new bus and the old one was looking
a bit tired.
“It’s great that the charity and hotels have been able to help us out.
“The children have never stopped talking about meeting Mr Shearer and many
went out and bought autograph books.”
Pupil Sharne Smith, 16, said: “I was excited about seeing our new bus and Mr
Shearer is very nice. I went out to get an autograph book this morning because
I wanted him to sign it.”
To raise money for the bus the hotels organised a number of fundraising events,
including an abseil down the side of the hotel. Donations also came from hotel
guests when they checked out after their stay.
Chief Executive of Malmaison and Hotel Du vin Robert Cook said: “I am
delighted that the bus was given to this school.
“The work they do is just fantastic, they give kids a really good life. The
children leave the school very happy.”
The hotels, along with support from the Variety Club have supplied more than
150 coaches to centres across the UK.
