Organisers behind a campaign to raise money for Westoe Travel agent Chloe Rutherford and her boyfriend Liam Curry are appealing to the industry to help reach its new target of £20,000.
Almost £18,000 has already been raised for Chloe and Liam, who were killed in the Manchester bombing, smashing its original target of £10,000.
Owner of Westoe Travel Graeme Brett of Westoe Travel said: “With the amazing support from the travel industry we have passed the original target of £10,000 but having seen the challenges the two families face we doubled our efforts to try to get to £20,000.”
The £18,000 has been raised from Just Giving donations, raffle ticket sales and pledges at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards.
The winning raffle tickets will be drawn at a special event on August 31 at The Customs House in South Shields.
Brett said: “We have a very special celebrity guest coming along to draw the prizes.
“We will then be presenting the cheques to the families and they want to take the opportunity to personally thank everyone who has supported the fundraising.
“We are delighted that Ken Garrity of Ken Garrity Travel and Jill Waite from Pole Travel who organised the Just Giving Appeal and have given so much support will be joining us along with tour operators which donated prizes and the wonderful friends in the travel industry that have been selling raffle tickets and made donations.
“We are so grateful for all of the support from our wonderful colleagues in the industry. No other industry would support each other in this way.”
Anyone wishing to support the Appeal can donate by:
- Bank Transfer to HSBC quoting ‘Together Forever’. Sort code 40-34-18 Account 14403002
- Sending a cheque payable to ‘Together Forever’ to Westoe Travel, 120 Westoe Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE33 3P
- Credit or debit card by telephoning Westoe Travel on 0191 4559175
- Buying a £5 raffle ticket for Together Forever The Big Prize Draw.