2DayFM’s Nath & Emma pull out all the stop for Isla in the final Really Cool Ride to School

2DayFM Breakfast’s Nath & Emma have gone all out with their final Really Cool Ride to School giving 9-year-old Isla a day to be the main character in her own fairytale.

Isla is a gifted sporting star but behind her talent lies a daily battle with dyslexia and chronic anxiety. Sadly, these challenges often result in Isla being left out of friendship groups and regularly found sitting alone on her school’s ‘Find a Buddy’ bench – a dedicated space for kids feeling excluded to connect and find someone to play with.

Her mother, Kylie, nominated her daughter, tearing up on-air at the painful reality of seeing her little girl feel isolated and left behind.

Knowing Isla loves everything a typical nine-year-old girl does – from Sabrina Carpenter and KPop Demon Hunters to Disney Princesses – Nath & Emma knew exactly what to do.

As the sun rose this morning, Isla woke to the sound of horse hooves on her driveway. Dressed up as her favourite princess, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Isla was then taken to school in a grand carriage pulled by two majestic white horses with a real-life mermaid princess joined her inside the carriage for the ultimate commute.

The arrival at St Andrews Public School was a show-stopper with hundreds of students dressed up as their own favourite characters to show their support, forming a guard of honour and loudly chanting Isla’s name as she was whisked through the gates.

Four-time Olympic Gold Medal-winning swimmer Ariarne Titmus appeared on the big screen to give Isla a personal message of encouragement, then the playground then went completely wild when Ejae from Huntrix—the singing voice of Rumi in Netflix’s smash-hit series KPop Demon Hunters—sent a video message of her own. She reminded the students that friendship is the most important thing in the world, before sending an outpouring of love and support directly to Isla.

Finally, Isla, an avid dirt bike rider was completely blown away when she was presented with her very own, brand-new Assassin Electric Dirt Bike.

Hearing about the impact of the ‘Find a Buddy’ bench on Isla’s life, Nath & Emma donated a brand-new, vibrant buddy bench to St Andrews Public School, serving as a permanent reminder to the entire school community that no child should ever feel left out. Isla officially opened the bench, cutting the ceremonial ribbon to an explosion of confetti cannons.

2DayFM Breakfast co-host, Nath Roye, said:

“Isla’s story hit us right in the chest. No kid deserves to feel alone on that ‘Find a Buddy’ bench, so we wanted to make sure that today, the entire city of Sydney was standing right beside her. It’s been an unforgettable morning and the perfect way to wrap up the series.”

2DayFM Breakfast co-host, Emma Chow, added:

“We wanted this grand finale to be an absolute fairytale, and seeing the entire St Andrews school community chanting Isla’s name was pure magic. Her days of sitting alone on that bench are officially over!”

Over the past three weeks, the Really Cool Ride to School initiative has captured the heart of Sydney, turning ordinary Friday mornings into life-changing celebrations for local kids who need it most.