Abta LifeLine has launched a Christmas appeal to reach out to members who may be facing financial hardship over the festive period.
The charity, which was set up to help members facing a personal crisis, is calling on the industry to spread the word about the work it does by sharing some special Christmas LifeLine images via social media or company intranets.
Director Trudie Drake said: “We want people to spread the word in case they know someone who needs help. We can help those who perhaps are struggling. For some, it may be a choice of turning the heat on or having a Christmas dinner; we can help. Christmas doesn’t have to be a choice.”
Drake said there are still not enough frontline agency staff who know about Abta LifeLine and the help it offers, and this campaign could go some way to raising awareness of the charity’s work.
Since September, Abta LifeLine has raised £16,000 for its Make a Noise for Charlie campaign. Eight-month-old Charlie Reynolds, whose mum Sophie Reynolds was Bourne Leisure’s sales executive for the south until last year, was diagnosed with a rare condition that results in paralysis of the vocal cords. It means he has to rely on machines to help him breathe.
The money raised is helping to fund the family’s move from a flat to a three-bedroom house in time for Christmas so that Charlie can have his own room with his breathing apparatus and round-the-clock medical care. Sophie said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the travel industry. We’ve found a house that suits all Charlie’s equipment, and which gives us much-needed family time.”
To download shareable images for the Abta LifeLine Christmas Appeal, go to abtalifeline.org.uk