Free taxi idea ranks highly
Kindly cabbie given £23k so veterans can get around
A BIGHEARTED taxi driver has been given a £23,000 cash injection to help old soldiers.
David Gibson launched Fares4Free last year after hearing about his pals’ experience of life after serving in the forces.
He now works with other taxi drivers to give rides to veterans who have trouble using public transport due to physical injuries or posttraumatic stress disorder.
Help For Heroes have given the cash boost after the charity made more than 1000 journeys – adding up to £60,000 in free fares.
David, 46, from Glasgow, said: “We aim to fight veteran isolation, a mile at a time. We give free taxis to veterans of all ages, helping them to access services and attend to daily tasks.”
The Help for Heroes grant of £23,140 will allow the service to be extended to younger veterans.
Scott Garthley, from Tranent, East Lothian, has had 50 ops since he was injured in 2003 in Iraq. Fares4Free took him from hospital in Edinburgh, where he was recovering from a leg amputation, to meet TV star Sean Kelly at the Festival Fringe.
Kelly, the star of Storage Hunters, was raising funds for Help for Heroes at his chat show.
Fares4Free also ferry veterans to Horseback UK in Aberdeenshire, who use horses to provide therapy and care.
Lynn Artesse, of Horseback UK, said many veterans are daunted by the thought of using public transport.
She added: “If we can call David to drive a few guys here, it removes much of the anxiety.”