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Why taxi firm is boosting our Sponsor a Nurse campaign

23rd September 2024

Emotional patient journey inspires Alin’s passion to give back to St Luke’s

Driving a poorly patient on his final journey from home to St Luke’s specialist unit had a deep and emotional effect on Plymouth taxi business owners Alin and Peter.

Appreciating for the first time the exceptional service the hospice provides for people at the end of their lives, Alin Turi promised himself that he would support St Luke’s in the future.

Three years later, Alin’s DevonXpress Travel has not only become the chief corporate backer for St Luke’s Sponsor a Nurse campaign, but two per cent of every customer’s fare collected via a special online link will be donated directly to St Luke’s to support patient and family care.

And one of the company’s cars will be decked out in special St Luke’s Sponsor a Nurse livery to promote the campaign as it travels around the city and beyond.

“I felt proud that I have created and built a business that is not just for me – it is for helping others.”

Alin recalled the day he became aware of St Luke’s work: “I had been driving this customer to dialysis appointments at the hospital but this day, when I picked him up, he said it would be the last journey. The doctor had given him one month to live and he was going to St Luke’s.

“That is when I realised how amazing St Luke’s is and I looked into how it is helping people and getting involved in the community. I said when the business is really good, I will come back to St Luke’s and that’s what I’m doing.

“I know how amazing the nurses are and what they do for our community, and I know that requires money and support. When we signed the sponsorship contract with St Luke’s I literally had tears in my eyes. I felt proud that I have created and built a business that is not just for me – it is for helping others.”

We will be there

In addition to financial sponsorship, Alin’s wonderful kindness includes a pledge to provide suitable transport – including wheelchair accessible vehicles if appropriate – for special days out in the Plymouth area for patients and their family members.

“I was so impressed when I heard about St Luke’s granting wishes for patients. For example when it was someone’s last wish to see their grandson play at the seaside, because they weren’t well enough to go you brought the beach to the hospice,” he said.

“I know transport for patients can be quite hard sometimes, especially if they need a wheelchair. As long as this company is in Plymouth, if St Luke’s requires wheelchair transport, or if someone has a last wish and we can help with transport, then we will be there. If they want to go to Kingsbridge or Kingsand, we can take them there. Or they might want to do a tour of Plymouth for an hour. These are things we can do.”

Helping is caring

The company also aims provide transport for St Luke’s nursing teams if any of the hospice’s in-house vehicles are out of action.

“Everyone wants to help, and all the little bits add up to make a difference. I’ve talked to my drivers, and some will also give a donation to St Luke’s via their tax return. We want to make an impact and show that helping is caring.”

Thank you

Alin, who lives in the city with his wife and two children, started his local company in 2016. He came to Plymouth from Romania in 2008, then worked in London for a few years before returning to the West Country. His business now has 60 vehicles, 12 of which can be used for wheelchairs or as seven-seaters.

“We are living in this amazing community of Plymouth, and we want to give something back. This is our way of saying thank you and I know that helping St Luke’s will have a huge impact,” he said.

Support St Luke’s by sponsoring a nurse

“If you need a taxi, please use us because we are giving back. From the money customers are paying us, the company is giving back to St Luke’s. It does not cost me anything, but the impact is huge within the community. We are the first taxi company to do this; I hope maybe others will follow.”

If you bookmark this link on your phone, it will connect you to a special DevonXpress Travel taxi booking platform that will automatically donate two per cent of your fare to St Luke’s. https://ebooker.devonxpress.taxi/c749e77a-8c9b-4400-946f-d37a7bc36853

For information about how to Sponsor a Nurse through personal regular giving visit https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/nurse/

Sponsor a St Luke’s nurse Devon Xpress Travel taxi booking

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