Manchester Airport has teamed up with the charity Reuben’s Retreat in a bid to raise £23,000.
The charity was set up six-years-ago by industry professionals Nicola and Mike Graham in memory of their son Reuben who died of a rare brain tumour aged 23 months – and has become a favourite cause of the travel industry.
Reuben’s supports children who have a life limiting illness and their families through counselling, support groups, therapy days and short breaks for children. The vision is for the charity to become a facility for families to come to for holidays to create lasting memories.
Inspired by the story of Reuben’s Retreat at Travel Weekly’s Northern Ball in September, the airport will launch a special prize draw called Challenge 23 starting on November 23. The number 23 is to commemorate the number months Reuben lived.
Over 23 weeks, Manchester Airport will give away 23 prizes – 22 bottles of champagne plus the star prize of a holiday to any of Manchester Airport’s 210 destinations to the value of £2,300.
Nicola Graham said of the prize-draw: “I am so delighted and thankful that Manchester Airport has got onboard with Reuben’s Retreat and sees our vision.
“Challenge 23 is going to be a great competition where hopefully we will raise £23,000 over the next 23 weeks. The money raised will play a large part in the transformation of the space here, allowing children and families the opportunity to relax recharge remember and rebuild at their time of need.”
Patrick Alexander, head of marketing at Manchester Airport, added: “We met the Reuben’s Retreat team at a recent Travel Weekly event and after a visit to the site jointly came up with the Challenge 23 idea. I am hoping we raise much more than £23,000 as the money is going to such a worthwhile cause that benefits families not just near Manchester Airport, but across the whole of the UK.”
Actress and charity patron Julie Hesmondhalgh, who will pick the winner next year, also voiced her support for the campaign and said: “Reuben’s Retreat is such a worthwhile cause that does so much good work here in the North, but also for families across the UK.”
Tickets cost £5 and the competition will run until May 3, 2019 and is open to the public as well as travel agents. To buy tickets, visit www.reubensretreat.org