Two schools have received three new Sunshine Coaches after a group of businessmen raised a whopping £100,000.

Variety, the Children’s Charity, presented two of the coaches to Beaucroft Foundation School in Colehill and the other to Bethany CE Junior School in Boscombe.

They were bought with a £100,000 donation from the BC Club which has supported Variety Wessex in many ways during recent years.

More than half of the 40-strong club attended the presentation.

Frances Cornelius, Chair of Variety Wessex, thanked Shan Seewooruthun, Chairman of the BC Club, and his members.

She said: “Thank you all so much for your love and care for the thousands of really special children that we all work together to support.

“The children’s lives are transformed by your generosity.

“The experiences your donations have enabled give them amazing memories that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.”

Much of the money presented was raised during Covid restrictions by challenges using an old black taxi-cab.

The taxi, pictured, has become well known in the business community as all the club members had to fulfill tasks and forfeits.

Each week a different BC Club member had the taxi.

They had to pay £250 for the privilege of driving the cab and would be ‘fined’ if discovered using any other mode of transport.

Initially the club hoped to raise £15,000 but the success of the project far out stripped this ambition.

Since then members have raised more than £150,000 and fundraising has continued.

The Sunshine Coach presentation was held at the premises of one of BC Club’s members, DWP Housing Partnership.

It took place on St Patrick’s Day, providiong another opportunity to raise some extra charity funds.

Shan and Steve Wells, Deputy Chairman, pictured with Frances, had some amusing penalties for their members, including ‘fining’ those not wearing a green tie and issuing a penalty for tatty shoes.

Shan said: “Variety were able to advise the best way to support their charity work.

“In the end it seemed fitting that the money raised by our members via the old taxi should fund some rather more modern modes of transport.

“We are delighted to have been able to fund these three Sunshine Coaches.”

Diane Makariou, Co-head of Beaucroft Foundation School, said: “This will make a huge difference to the school and will enable us to offer much more to the children.

“A big thank you to Variety and the BC Club.”

Steve Bielby, Deputy Head of Bethany CE Junior School, said: “We have many children whose lives will be greatly improved by our being able to take them out on trips in the Sunshine Coach.”

• Pictures by Hattie Miles.