CELTIC FC Foundation has today donated £7,000 to this year’s Glasgow Taxis´ Outing Fund for Sick Children, continuing the club’s long-standing support of the annual charity event.

Former Hoops favourite, Tosh McKinlay handed over the cheque to help fund the trip for at least 300 deserving kids on the Celtic Way.  

It brings the contribution by the club to the Glasgow Taxis’ Outing Fund to nearly £140,000 over the last 18 years.

Established in 1945, the Glasgow Taxis´ Outing Fund aims to provide a day of excitement and fun for children with special needs.

This year’s event takes place on Wednesday, June 15, and will see a colourful convoy of cabs once again make the traditional journey from the West End of Glasgow to Troon in Ayrshire, where the children will enjoy a fun-packed day.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “We are absolutely delighted to continue our support of the taxis outing for yet another year. This is a great annual occasion for the city, bringing  great fun to children who really deserve our support”.

“The money Celtic has donated and the effort and hard work of so many people, has meant thousands of children and their families receiving much needed help. Everyone who makes this event so special deserves enormous credit”. 

“Celtic was formed in 1888 to help to help people in need and we are pleased that today, the objective of making a positive difference to the lives of others remains such an important part of the club. We hope everyone involved in Wednesday’s event enjoys a great day out.”

Tosh McKinlay said: “I was lucky enough to see them off from the Kelvin Way last year in their 70th year, so it’s great to take part again. For Celtic FC Foundation to put in another £7,000 is a fantastic gesture and it’s great to promote that.”

Jim Buchanan, chairperson of the Glasgow Taxis’ Outing Fund, said: “We can’t thank the people and all the fans who have donated through Celtic FC Foundation enough. It’s fantastic and we really appreciate it and all they have done for us over the years.

“The outing is one of the first days that everybody thinks about.This is the really big charity we have in the taxi trade and everyone that attends the event speaks about it all the time.

“All the taxi drivers always want to know when the date is for next year, ask questions about it and it’s the only thing a lot of them speak about.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to determine who the real kids are – the ones in the front or the ones in the back!

“They work hard and a lot of them make a huge effort to do up their taxi with balloons and in the past we have had things like spaceships and tennis courts. They take their cab off the road for two or three days and work on it, they think it’s worthwhile and so do we.

“We aim for around 150 drivers and we have volunteers and charitable donations from people like Celtic. There are so many people involved all-year round, but on the day there could be up to 220 volunteers from different backgrounds distributing the food to the kids. The support we get is fantastic.”

Davie Hodgson, a taxi driver based out of Castlemilk, said: “My first outing was 24 years ago this year. We absolutely love it. It’s a humbling day. We are all Glasgow taxi drivers and it’s a day where we can give something back to the city – and it’s one day where everyone likes taxi drivers!

“It’s cracking day and a lot of the boys put in a lot of effort with dressing up, and this year we are going as The Magnificent Seven.

“It’s the one day of the year when the drivers can just act like weans. You see them all on the Kelvin Way leaping about like lunatics. It’s terrific and I would never miss it.

“It means a lot to the kids and it’s nice to give something back. We work up in Castlemilk and all the boys are all buzzing. They all have the cowboy outfits already and tomorrow they will start turning up with them even though the event is on Wednesday!”