Pictured: Ed Sheeran with blue Together Forever Trust t-shirt at concert
Musician Ed Sheeran has publicly backed the trust set up in memory of the Westoe Travel agent and her boyfriend who died in last year’s Manchester bomb attack.
Chloe Rutherford, 17, an apprentice at the South Shields travel agency, and Liam Curry, 19, were among 22 killed in the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena in May last year.
The Together Forever Trust was set up by their families in their memory to help other young people achieve their goals in life and fufil their potential, and has already raised more than £100,000.
Sheeran wore a wristband and T-shirt showing the Chloe and Liam Together Forest Trust at his gig in front of 50,000 people at Newcastle United’s St James Park stadium on Sunday.
He has strong links with the area and is good friends with comedian and trust patron Chris Ramsey. His song Perfect was one of the couple’s favourites and was played at their funeral.
Chloe and Liam’s parents were in the audience and were invited to meet the popstar before the concert.
Westoe Travel owner Graeme Brett said it meant so much to the family and the trust to have the support of such a well-known singer-songwriter to help raise awareness and funds for other young people.
He said: “It is amazing that someone so famous and so busy can take the time to make a difference to other people’s lives. Ed invited the parents to meet him before the concert as he was aware how much his music and especially his song ‘Perfect’ meant to the families.”
Last month South Shields turned pink and blue in the couple’s memory with businesses, including Westoe Travel, changing their window displays to support the theme.
Pictures of families with Ed Sheeran:
Top pic: Liam’s brother Zak Curry
Bottom left: Chloe’s parents Lisa and Mark Rutherford
Bottom right: Liam’s mother Caroline Curry