Michael Kidd
Paramedic:

I am Aoife's dad and she is the very special wee woman that has inspired me and been the driving force behind my motivation to create this sensory bus. Towards the end of 2019 we received the absolutely devastating news we hoped would never come, that her illness had progressed beyond help and our warrior princess died in December aged 6. Through Aoife's time undergoing surgeries, chemotherapy and being part of clinical trials at Great Ormond Street Hospital for almost two years we could see her development was affected and delayed. My wife Evelyn and I had noticed throughout our time attending hospitals with Aoife the enormous positive impact that sensory and interactive spaces had on her and other children’s wellbeing.

We always felt that with Aoife's circumstances she fell somewhere in between a mainstream setting and an additional support setting. Rather than Aoife being exclusive we thought it could be an opportunity to promote inclusiveness. From fundraising and creating a sensory room within Monkton Primary School, a great opportunity presented itself with Stagecoach bus company very kindly donating us a bus. I have seen first hand how these sensory environments can create opportunities for children and young people. Unfortunately, they are also expensive and there is a lack of access to them in our communities. By creating Aoife's Sensory Bus I hope that some good can come from something that has been so devastating.