Actress Julie Hesmondhalgh won £64,000 for Reuben’s Retreat in Sunday night’s ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special’.
The former Coronation Street star appeared on the ITV quiz show to answer questions posed by host Jeremy Clarkson .
Hesmondhalgh is patron of the charity which launched a fundraising campaign to raise its “final build million pounds” at Travel Weekly’s Globe Travel Awards last month.
The funding will enable the charity to finish a building project started more than a decade ago to convert a former hospital site in Derbyshire into a retreat for families of children with complex medical needs or those who have lost a child.
Founder Nicola Graham, who has credited the industry as instrumental in its support since she set up the organisation in her son’s name, said: “I was teary when I heard our patron and friend share with pride her chosen charity, I then cried.
“We were already richer, having her sat in that seat and sharing with the audience.
“From there on in everything else was a bonus. She hoped she’d pass £16,000 and had set herself a target of £32,000 to bring home.
“To smash £64,000 well, she was just buzzing, absolutely thrilled.
“The more we raise, the more we renovate, meaning we reach more families.”
More than £15,000 was raised for Reuben’s Retreat at the Globe Travel Awards as the charity officially kicked off its One in a Million campaign.
How to get involved in the ‘One in a Million’ campaignDonate £1 or more by going to: givengain.com/campaign/rr-one-in-a-million Pledge to take part in a fundraising activity or event: reubensretreat.org/events Mail your offer of support to: fundraising@reubensretreat.org |
