A bus driver is bringing Christmas cheer to everyone who gets on his service this week.
Ernie Gore is dressing up as Santa Claus to raise funds for the children’s cancer charity Aoibheann’s Pink Tie – set up by a dad, who like him – lost his daughter to cancer.
Ernie, from Finglas in north Dublin, and his partner Siobhan lost their beloved Mia, five, to a brain tumour.
She was diagnosed at two months and passed away in May 2015.
Over the years he and his family have raised funds for a number of charities that helped them but Aoibheann’s Pink Tie is extra special to the couple.
Every year on Mia’s birthday and on the anniversary of her death, flowers are delivered to their house by the charity.
For Ernie, driving his bus while dressed as Santa is his way of giving something back.
He said: “To do this for Aoibheann’s Pink Tie means a lot to me. They never forget. On the May 7 every year without fail and on Mia’s birthday in October without fail there are always gifts brought to the house.
“We are always receiving letters from them, I have helped lots of charities but this is the big one.”
Jimmy Norman, who set up Aoibheann’s Pink Tie in memory of his daughter Aoibheann said sending flowers was an idea from one of their great volunteers Linda.
He said: “It is a wonderful psychological support to know that your child has not been forgotten.”
He revealed a lot of families, like him, visit their child’s final resting place on Christmas Day and lay flowers.
Jimmy also said that with his friend Mick Rochford, who co-founded the charity with him, “will go to the hospital [Crumlin] on Christmas Day. It is part of our tradition now and it is the most wonderful part of Christmas Day for me.”
Jimmy said that when he heard Ernie talking about why he was dressing up as Santa Claus that it touched him greatly.
Ernie revealed he thought of dressing up last week and got the support of his employer Go-Ahead.
On his regular route – the 197 from Ashbourne to Swords – he has brought joy and cheer to passengers of all ages who see him in his red suit and white beard.
He said: “Passengers are stopping me to take photographs, the little kids' faces are amazing.”
Ernie and Siobhan also have Caitlin, 17, Taylor, 14, Carter, six, and two-year-old Caben.
Ernie said: “We should be shopping for five children for Christmas. The first Christmas after Mia passed away we still bought toys and to this day we still have them.
“I want to thank all the public who have been donating and without them the GoFundMe page would not be where it is today.”
- To support the fundraiser visit www.gofundme.com/f/santy-go-ahead-bus-driver
