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16/7/2007 - FARE OLD TIME OUT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS

Thanet Press Hundreds of London’s special needs children will be treated to an exclusive private concert featuring one of the top bands from Margate’s largest music festival this weekend, thanks to the South East’s big hearted taxi drivers and a host of sponsors.

Organised by The Albany Charity Fund, this year’s annual taxi outing to Margate on 9th July will be extra special as the youngsters will be treated to an exclusive one hour concert set up especially for them at the Margate Winter Gardens featuring the band Kashmir Gyro from ‘Britannia Rocks’ – an all day music festival held the day before on 8th July at The Britannia, Fort Hill, Margate.

With the help from many other sponsors such as Charlton Athletic Football Club and Thanet Press - Thanet’s largest printing company who supplied over 400 posters helping to advertise the event - around 300 special needs children, aged five to 55, will have a day out to remember.

The convoy of over 150 taxis, police, fire brigade, St John’s Ambulance and breakdown trucks will include youngsters from many schools in South East London including Greenvale, Marlborough, Willow Dene, Bexley SNAP and Cliffwood.

It all started 35 years ago when a group of licensed taxi drivers arranged to take some mentally handicapped children to the seaside. It took over a year to plan, but the first outing was such a success that it was turned into an annual event.

Derek Pearson, Secretary of the Albany Charity said: “This year’s event is even more special as we are able to treat the kids to a private concert that’s being put on especially for them. It’s great to see how happy the kids are on these outings. It’s a brilliant day out for them, a really good experience and it makes them feel special.”

“All these outings are attended by our licensed taxi-drivers not only from London but also from the suburbs, they supply themselves and their taxi free of charge and are always on hand to help special needs children.”

“None of this would have been possible without the help and support of all our sponsors.”

Craig Durrant, Commercial Manager of Thanet Press, said: “This is such a worthwhile event to be involved in and we didn’t hesitate to say yes. As Margate’s largest printing company it seemed only right that we provided large format posters to help raise awareness.”

The Albany also takes more than 500 special needs children in over 200 licensed taxis to major venues throughout the year such as Thorpe Park, Chessington and visits to the pantomimes.

The Albany Charity Fund now gives money to schools and homes to purchase much needed items such as wheelchairs and hand bells - anything that local councils cannot supply.

With over two centuries of experience, Thanet Press is one of the UK's leading print companies in terms of specialist expertise producing magazines, periodicals, journals, directories, yearbooks.

The Live Music Event runs from 12 Midday to 12 Midnight at the Britannia, Fort Hill, Margate, who have kindly given the use of their venue for free for the day and has been organised by Live-n-Direct Music in association with The Margate Music Cooperative. Visit www.margatemusiccooperative.co.uk or www.myspace.com/livendirectmusic for the full line-up of the Bands playing on Sunday 8th July 2007.

ENDS

Notes to editors

For information on Thanet Press contact Carrie Wallace, axis media group on 0141 889 6868 or 07812 558 562 carrie@axismediagroup.co.uk

For information on The Albany Charity Fund contact Derek Pearson on 020 8378 9438 or 07788572884 derek@albany-charity.org.uk

For information on Britannia Rocks contact Tessa on 07958 010 599 or visit www.myspace.com/livendirectmusic

Attached picture: Hundreds of special needs children enjoying last year’s taxi outing

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