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"WE can repair the economy, but we can’t bring people back to life.”

If any quote during the coronavirus so far hit the nail on the head it was this one by the First Minister yesterday.

At the time of writing, 60 Scots have lost their lives because of the virus and the only very sad certainty is that this number will rise.

Me and my fellow members and drivers, like you reading this no doubt, are all feeling the financial pinch and that’s a very personal worry that won’t go away – but there’s nothing like a dose of perspective.

One day we will be beyond this. One day the economy will return to a degree of normality. And one day all you Glasgow Times readers will be able to take taxis to wherever you wish as you enjoy your freedoms once again and like never before.

Until then, while managing our own circumstances in the very best way we can, the only other thing we can do is help others (while obeying all the government and NHS rules).

Glasgow Taxi drivers do find themselves in a position where it is still possible to help the city and country’s fight against coronavirus and I’m proud of each and every driver who has been doing just that.

Most notably this has been delivered via the Glasgow NHS Taxi fundraising page which has now raised more than £5000, enabling some of us to provide free transport to NHS staff who need it most.

The spirit of the fund was for it to be there to help those who needed it most – Glasgow NHS staff struggling for transport, under financial pressure and working in Glasgow hospitals directly fighting the virus. It was intended for one-off or occasional use to give those people a boost – rather than block bookings – especially for those travelling home at unsociable hours after long, late shifts.

For the first week or so, the fund worked well with moderate use before the weekend saw a huge surge on demand – and drain on the fund – thanks to well-intended tweets and messages which simply said “free travel for all NHS Glasgow staff”.

While we’d love to do that, we simply can’t. Glasgow Taxis can be part of the short-term solution – not the whole solution – until, hopefully, more transport assistance arrives for the health workforce from government.

Today, the rate of use of the fund is outstripping donations, so we hope anyone who can afford to do so can dig deep and throw in another pound or two so we can continue to help. If everyone who clapped for the NHS last Thursday night gave even 10p we’d be covered for weeks.

Again, I must pay credit to the Glasgow Taxis staff and drivers who are helping deliver all this at a time of real uncertainty and worry for themselves. They are a credit to Glasgow.

We can help our NHS heroes for as long as that’s possible. So if you’ve read this and can spare a quid or two, please donate via https://www.gofundme.com/f/glasgow-nhs-taxi-fund

Let’s all do whatever we can to help save lives. As the First Minister said, that’s the one thing you can’t bring back.