The agent who helped a dying mum raise money for her two young sons after hearing her tragic story has praised her colleagues for their help.
Hays personal travel consultant Lisa Read received the Penny Akam Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by Affordable Car Hire, at this year’s Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards for her selfless work helping single mum Sam Kyme, 34, who was diagnosed with aggressive motor neurone disease in April.
Her dying wish was to raise enough money to cover legal and guardianship fees to ensure her boys Joey, 12, and Harry, eight, could live with her sister Pippa and her family in Australia.
On hearing about the local mum’s illness, Read took it upon herself to raise money to help Sam’s wish come true and asked colleagues and head office staff at Hays Travel to donate to the cause.
Within four weeks Hays Travel had raised £2,150.
“All I was thinking at the time was ‘how can I help this family?’ I have not done anything – just helped this family as much as I could. I read about Sam and felt I needed to do something and that was it. Once I get something in my head I have to follow it through.
“She wasn’t my customer but she lived locally. If it wasn’t for the team at Hays’ head office and my boss we wouldn’t have raised what we did. I would like to get to £5,000 to help them even more. Every £5 can make a difference.
“I treasure the fact that people took time to read this story. This family needs help; these boys no longer have a mum. If I can make their life a little better, I will.”