Ex-millionaire’s plea to help UK cancer patients

Health: Drive to fund hospital transport in communities across country

An ex-millionaire who sold all of his possessions to help cancer patients is hoping communities across the north of Scotland will be just as generous.

Brian Burnie, 73, put his house in Northumberland on the market in 2010 to help fund hospital transport for those requiring treatment.

“They really do feel like they are part of the team”

The ambulances run by his charity, Daft as a Brush, make 40,000 trips in Newcastle every year.

He is now encouraging others to take up the mantle and make a difference in their communities as well.

To do this, Mr Burnie has embarked upon a 7,000mile trek around the UK’s coastal paths, visiting hospitals and helping patients along the way in his bright blue bus, Bluebell.

He arrived in Aberdeen yesterday, and will remain in the Granite City for around a week before heading north towards Fraserburgh, Elgin and Inverness.

“When you see what cancer patients are going through, what I’m doing is nothing,” the retired businessman said. “I didn’t realise how many people live on their own with cancer, and so many will stress about how to get to hospital the next day.

“So it takes a whole lot of anxiety away from what the patients are going through.” Mr Burnie has a team of more than 350 volunteers helping to run the operation in Newcastle.

He said: “Each vehicle has a driver and a companion, so a crew of two.

“They go out and pick up the patients and they really do feel like they are part of the team that’s helping them get better. It’s very rewarding.

“The patients are going through a very difficult and challenging time, so my big picture is for the rest of Great Britain to help.”

Despite the added 7,000mile challenge, he says trekking between destinations rather than following the roads has offered some unique opportunities.

He added: “When we were walking towards Aberdeen I saw the fantastic Dunottar Castle and the incredible war memorial.

“I simply wouldn’t have seen it if I wasn’t walking and putting one foot in front of the other.”

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: “We met representatives from the charity earlier this week to hear more about their experiences elsewhere.

“We are keen to explore the potential use of the service in Grampian.”

Photograph by Kenny Elrick TREK: Brian Burnie is in Aberdeen as part of his drive to help cancer patients across the UK.