Sunderland schoolgirl brightens up essential journeys with rainbow artwork for her dad's taxi

Tabitha Howe, seven, has drawn artwork and given a Care Bear to dad David Howe as a message of hope for him and his passengers.

Like the fellow Station Taxi drivers still working, David is helping the people of Sunderland to carry out essential shopping trips whilst getting key workers to and from their workplace during lockdown.

Tabitha’s mum Ashley McHugh is also carrying out an essential job as a manager at Croft Care Home in Barnes and the St Leonard’s School pupil wanted to do her bit to lift people’s spirits.

The rainbow has become a symbol of hope during the COVID-19 crisis with children painting pictures for their windows and decorating pavements with the colourful motif.

David said: “We’ve tried to be sensitive to what’s going on and didn’t want to go too in depth with the pandemic with Tabitha. But she understands what’s happening and has been embracing the Clap for Carers on Thursday nights.

“I felt like care home workers hadn’t been getting as much recognition for their work at the forefront of the pandemic, so I’d been bigging up how important what her mam does. Tabitha was very supportive of that and then her mam had been saying to her about what I do and how we’re all playing a role.”

The artwork comes as the Echo is running its #actsofkindness campaign to highlight the amazing things people are doing to help others in their community.

David added: “We’re not super heroes, but our job is potentially dangerous. Me and the other lads who’ve chosen to work are small, but important, cogs in a big machine.

“I’ve put Tabitha’s drawing on the dashboard for everyone to see and the Care Bear sits in the front passenger seat with his seat belt on. The passengers love it and often comment on it.”

If you know someone who has done something amazing to help our communities, contact us on social media or email: [email protected].

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