b'TONY & MARY HEFFERNANhave experienced a The BUMBLEance medical transport experience removes fear profound sadness that few families have had to endure. For theforchildren.Equippedwithacolorfulinterior,aTV,iPad,first few years of life, their daughter Saoirse and her young- video games, movies, internet, music and three seats instead oferbrotherLiamenjoyedthethingsthatmostchildrendo. the standard two so both parents can accompany a paramedic,Playing with toy dinosaurs, visiting Disneyland Paris, and drawing the vehicle creates an entirely different type of transport forbumblebees. But in 2009, Saoirse was diagnosed with Battensseriously ill children. Yet underneath the animated characters Disease, a rare neurological disorder that left her prone to mul- and the entertainment systems is a top-notch medical service tiple seizures and robbed her of bodily functions. Sadly at age 5,equipped and staffed to handle the most demanding and delicate she passed away from the condition.transports. All of this is provided to families across Ireland and Devastated,thefamilystillfoundawaytomakea Northern Ireland at no charge. positive impact for other families. In the midst of their grief,theychannelledtheirenergiesandfoundedSaoirseFounda- Itsexceptionallyexpensivein tiontomakepositivelifeimpactsforchildren,throughitsfirstproject,BeeforBattens,tosupportaffectedchildrenIrelandtodothis,butwedont andfamiliesandtoraiseawarenessforBattensDisease.In April 2013, the Heffernans Saoirse Foundationextended its chargefamiliesforourservice, charitable objectivesto help even more families and their sick children across the Island of Ireland. Their two new projects aresays Tony. As long as we can con-Liams Lodge Irelands first national respite centre for children with rare and genetic disorders and their families, Liams Lodgetinue to fundraise to keep it going, will also be Irelands 2nd childrens hospice,and in September 2013,BUMBLEancea state-of-the-art ambulance designed towe will do just that. The public has safely transport Irelands sickest children and their families to been very good to us, and now The medicaltreatmentswhileprovidingawarmandentertainingenvironment.BUMBLEancealsoprovidesAngelTripsfor Ireland Funds have been as well.children making their final journey from hospital to home as they conclude palliative care. As the four charities created awareness and supportBUMBLEanceisreservedforfamilieswithprofoundmedical for families across Ireland, The Heffernan family experiencedneeds. Weve picked up a child who had multiple broken bones theunthinkableasLiam,whohadalsobeendiagnosedwith due to Brittle Bone Syndrome and they looked like a starfish in a Battens Disease, lost his battle in May of 2014, also at age 5. big cast, explains Tony. You cant transport a child like this in By now much of the public had come to know the story of the the family car/minivan. But BUMBLEance can. In that instance, Heffernans through the Irish media and their grief was shared bythe child didnt even know she was sick because she was watching many across Ireland and around the world. a cartoon on the LED tv. She just came in, looked around to see Tony Heffernan now serves as CEO of the charity andthe friendly bees, the bright colors, and our crew who made her speaks candidly about his familys experience. He has a first- feel at ease.hand passion for providing services to similar families in need.Each BUMBLEance costs200,000/$260,000 to build.With the BUMBLEance experience kids come first,CurrentlythereisoneservingtheentireislandofIrelandfamily comes first, and dignity is intact, explains Tony. I anddemandforitsuseishigh.Ideally,TonyenvisionsfiverememberourdaughterSaoirsehavingtotravelfromthe BUMBLEances transporting children across the island someday Dingle Peninsula to Dublin and back in a regular ambulanceand is actively fundraising to get BUMBLEance II on the road. and it was a frightening experience. So we established the first Life isnt just a chore, or a function. It should be an BUMBLEance. When our son Liam died in May of 2014, he wasexperience, Tony says softly. Most of the kids who will travel on first brought home by BUMBLEance. And our Bumble crew, asthis will have a shortened life so its priority number one to fit as we like to call them, came in and brought us door to door, bed tomany positive experiences into it. There will be enough frowns bed. It was just like a little hug, you know, in a sad time. Threeand tears in their lives while theyre here. Why not provide a days later, our son died. But his final journey on earth was in asmile rather than a frown?BUMBLEance. connect2015 | 15'