An initial target of raising £1 million in just 23 months has been smashed by fundraisers for charity Reuben’s Retreat.
The fundraising follows the death of 23-month-old Reuben Graham in August 2012 of a rare brain tumour.
Parents Nicola, ex-Red Sea Holidays, and Mike, who works for Celebrity Cruises, have already bought a building to run as a retreat in the Peak District and plan to open a counselling centre next year.
Reuben’s Retreat is due to open in the next two to three years as a place where families with children with life-limiting or terminal illnesses can go to relax, recharge and create memories.
Nicola said: “Losing Reuben was and is the most torturous experience and we would of course give anything to have him back with us.
“This will never be the case and so we want to help others who find themselves in this horrendous situation by offering them support every step of the way. We want to help them enjoy the time they have with their children as well as offering much needed support for bereaved parents too.”
She added: “Setting up the charity has allowed us to meet so many wonderful people and we are staggered by the support from our community, the travel industry – in which my husband works and where I worked – and indeed the whole of the UK.
“To smash £1 million will enable us to complete the first phase of our retreat which we purchased with cash back in April. The first phase will house a bereavement , counselling service for parents and siblings and we hope to help families from across the UK.”
Fundraising activities have been taking place on a weekly basis for the past 23 months.
Almost 300 runners took part in the Manchester 10K run in May to raise more than £50,000 for the charity.
The race was also ran by former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh and her husband Ian Kershaw who are now patrons of Reuben’s Retreat.
The single biggest donation to the charity has been £22,000 and several businesses and individuals have donated between £5,000- £20,000 and the remainder has been in small increments.
Nicola said: “We have been bowled over by the support of the UK travel industry, their generosity and kindness has shown no bounds. In fact businesses from all over the north-west too have lent their support.’
“As well as big firms helping us, we are always touched by simple acts of kindness such as a little boy donating all his pocket money or children offering to wash cars to help raise cash…and let’s not forget the hundreds of loom band bracelets that must have been made to raise funds.”
She added: “Myself, Mike, Isaac and the whole of the team would like to thank everyone that has helped us reach our incredible first goal.
“We experience first-hand the tragedy that is child loss. A pain we have to live with each passing day. We have been fortunate to be able to reach out and support a handful of families that walk in our shoes.
“I know the difference we have made in a very short time and we are only just scratching the surface of what we will eventually be capable of. We have proven time and again that this can be done and is all so achievable.
“This is the just the beginning and I would urge everyone to share our story so that we can raise much needed funds again and again to finish our project.”