More than £3,000 has been raised for the families of teenage travel agent apprentice Chloe Rutherford and her boyfriend Liam Curry aged 19 who were killed in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack.
The Chloe and Liam Appeal was established by Ken Garrity Travel of Altrincham in conjunction with Pole Travel of Failsworth with a target of £10,000.
Chloe’s boss Graeme Brett, owner of family-run Westoe Travel in South Shields, visited Manchester to thank fellow agents Ken Garrity and Jill Waite for their hard work in raising the funds.
He has also started a raffle Together Forever – The Big Prize Draw, which aims to raise further money by offering a chance to win one of 50 prizes including two return tickets to Dubai.
Many people in the travel trade and friends have rallied in support and large travel companies have come forward to donate prizes to the draw.
Brett said: “On Monday, May 22, two much-loved young people Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry, of South Shields, tragically lost their lives in the Manchester bombing.
“Chloe was a much-loved member of the team at Westoe Travel, working part-time while she completed her music studies at Newcastle College and was due to begin a full time career with Westoe Travel on June 26.”
Having visited both families, he added: “They are the loveliest families you could meet and are so grateful to everyone who has helped and send their love and thanks to everyone who has sent messages and contributed.
“Chloe’s mum is confined to a wheelchair and needs constant support. Chloe used to share the carer responsibilities. Her dad is going to have to give up his job to care for her as he works nights, and is hoping he can get a part-time job that will fit in.”
Garrity said that the families are going to need ongoing help.
“Graeme is talking to the families about the help they need. They both face major challenges as- Liam’s dad died six weeks before he did so his mum has lost her husband and son,” he said.
“We have also decided to help Graeme and the Westoe Travel team to run Together Forever – The Big Prize Draw to allow as many people as possible to be involved.
“We are extremely grateful for all of the prizes that have been donated and to everyone who has helped.”
*Tickets for the raffle cost £5 each and are available from Ken Garrity Travel 0161 929 0142