Bermuda's seniors are to be the beneficiaries of an amazing act of kindness and generosity.

As of Thursday, seniors' rest homes will have their own bus to take people around the Island on special pleasure trips.

The bus was brought in from Japan and can transport 15 people, in addition to the driver.

It is a Mitsubishi, specially equipped with a lift and slots to hold wheelchairs safely in place.

It is the gift of a small number of people who decided to take seniors' interests to heart - Project Action.

Founded by Judith Stewart and Cindy Swan, Project Action later recruited Sir John Plowman for advice and support and the three are now the charity's directors.

Ms Stewart told The Royal Gazette that the idea that a bus was deeply needed by the rest homes developed out of her own and Ms Swan's work at the now defunct St. George's Rest Home.

"Cindy and I were readers at St. George's," she said. "The matron at the home had a wish list and at the top of it was that the home needed transport for the seniors to take them to special events like Cup Match."

At that point in time, she said, the seniors were not being taken anywhere.

"They needed to be taken places to stimulate them and get them outside," said Ms Stewart. "They so obviously needed to be outside and we decided to start raising money to buy a bus."

Ms Stewart said Project Action began approaching the businesses and exempt companies in the hopes of raising enough money to provide a bus and driver.

While they were successful in raising quite a bit of money, she said, at the rate it was coming in, they were still roughly three years away from their purchase.

But out of the blue a generous benefactor stepped in - David Barber - with the balance of the funds needed to buy the bus.

Mr. Barber donated the money in the memory of his late wife, Mary.

"He was so eager to help us out it was like a dream come true," said Ms Stewart.

Now the bus is in Bermuda and will be launched for the benefit of all seniors on Thursday in a dedication ceremony at 3.30 p.m. at Palmetto Palms Senior Home on North Shore Road.

Ms Stewart said the bus will be available, free of charge, to both the Government and private rest homes.

Project Action will book reservations for weekdays, evenings and weekends and are also looking for volunteers to help them man the phones.

The charity has also secured a well qualified driver, June Saltus, who is a nurse in addition to holding the special CS vehicle licence.

"She has a very lovely, bubbly personality," Ms Stewart said. "That's exactly what seniors need because they are really a lot of fun if you just tap into them."

After the dedication ceremony and blessing by Bishop Ewen Ratteray on Thursday, Ms Stewart said the charity is arranging for three of the seniors to whom she and Ms Swan used to read to at St. George's rest home to be the first beneficiaries of a special outing aboard the Project Action bus.

The bus is comfortably laid out and has splendid views through its large windows, she said.

Thursday's trip will be the first of many which will re-open Bermuda's outdoor beauty to those that helped to bring the Island to where it is today.