Charity Spotlight: BUMBLEance
Ireland’s Children’s Ambulance Service
We'd like to know about your charity. Tell us who you are and what inspired the creation of your charity.
BUMBLEance was born out of heartbreak, founded by parents who lived first-hand the hardship of transporting sick children across the country for regular treatment. Over the past decade of operations, our supporters have powered us to grow from a single vehicle regional service, to a 15 vehicle national fleet operating all across Ireland.
BUMBLEance is Ireland’s only dedicated children’s ambulance service. We make a difference by empowering the thousands of families unable to access their child’s healthcare by providing nationwide transport in a safe, caring, and fun environment. Our services will always be 100% free, and available across the whole island to any child who needs us, regardless of socioeconomic background, location, condition, or ability. Our national services rely 100% on funds raised, meaning BUMBLEance is truly powered by the generosity of our community of supporters.
Our mission is simple – to drive change, by making sure no child is unable to access their healthcare due to something as simple as lack of transport.
What impact does your work have on the community?
There are over 8,000 families in Ireland caring for children with life-limiting conditions. In 2025, our supporters allowed us to look after the journey for our families over 2,100 times.
With the communities help, we can significantly increase both the number of families we serve, and journeys completed - ensuring every child in the care of a children’s health facility can equitably access their healthcare regardless of their circumstances. To further highlight the need for our service, over the last decade, our network of supporters has allowed BUMBLEance to travel nearly 3 million kilometres. However, there is much more work to be done. In 2025, we turned away a total of 442 trips due to limited resource but with the help of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon and our community of supporters we can bring this number down to zero!
Simply put, the more BUMBLEances you see on the road, the greater our impact! We measure success not only by the number of journeys completed but by the comfort, happiness, and dignity we bring to every child we serve. Our approach centres on empowerment, equality, and wellbeing. We ease the fear and trauma of hospital visits, giving children comfort and fun on every journey. Every family, regardless of circumstance, deserves access to care.
Would you like to share a success story that really represents what you do?
Jack, a Tralee native, joined the BUMBLEance family at just 13 months old. Born at only 27 weeks, weighing just 690g (1 ½ pounds), he faced overwhelming medical challenges such as chronic kidney and lung disease, a serious heart condition, and sustained two cardiac arrests before he turned one year old. His first year was spent moving between Dublin, Cork, and Kerry hospitals as he fought to survive.
Just days before Christmas 2022, his parents Michelle and Joe received the news they had been waiting for, Jack could finally go home, after going through various challenges, having a PEJ feeding tube fitted and a hernia operation in Crumlin, Michelle reached out to BUMBLEance and our driver Paul made that journey possible, bringing Jack home to Tralee for the first time in his life and making it just in time for Christmas
Since then, Jack has become a regular passenger with BUMBLEance, soon approaching his 25th trip. He has had many ups and downs, but he continues to show people how strong he is. Jack shares a special bond with his regular driver, Ritchie, and Michelle says Jack’s face lights up when he sees him. On board, Jack can lie comfortably, receive medication, and enjoy sensory lights, his favourite shows – currently Shrek and Fireman Sam, and moments of calm, things that would be impossible in a regular car.
BUMBLEance not only impacts our service users but also their parent/guardian. Michelle's says “I’m right beside him, where I need to be. It’s not only less stressful but so much safer. BUMBLEance is a godsend to parents like us.”
How has being part of the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon supported your charity's mission?
From being part of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, it has significantly benefited BUMBLEance by increasing our visibility and brand awareness among tens of thousands of participants and supporters. This offers us an opportunity for our supporters to wear a BUMBLEance branded t-shirt which is great for visibility. This event provides a platform to reach new audiences. It creates valuable fundraising opportunities, encouraging participants and the wider public to donate and fundraise. In addition, this spotlight will also help BUMBLEance grow the charity’s supporter base by attracting new donors and volunteers who can help make sure no child in Ireland is unable to access their healthcare.
Contact Info:
Telephone: 086 1040195 | Email: lauren@bumbleance.com | Website: https://www.bumbleance.com/