Prestbury Travel agent sets £30k fundraiser target in memory of son

A Poynton-based travel agent has called on the travel industry to help her raise funds for a memorial garden at Tameside & Glossop Critical Care Unit in memory of her son, who was a patient there.

Dawn Letham, senior travel consultant at Prestbury Travel, set up the initiative after her son Mark Thorley passed away at the unit at the age of 34 last September following two cardiac arrests.

In a video posted on social media, Letham shared her and her partner Alan’s experiences of “the most heart-breaking day” when her son “gained his superhero wings” and was given a guard of honour by the “wonderful staff" on duty.

She said: “The fundraising we are doing is in Mark’s memory. The unit has plans for a memorial garden and this is in his honour, but his legacy will be the organ donation which saved five lives.”

Letham added: “I’m putting out a big shout-out because I know there are loads of people in travel doing sponsored events for charity.

“If there are any companies that want to put a donation in, we are very grateful for all the help we can get behind us.”

Letham, who has been in the travel industry for 45 years, set up a JustGiving page which so far has raised £3,800 towards the £30,000 target to build a garden for visiting relatives and patients to use.

She said: “We have another £5,500 to go on top of that already because we did a big fundraiser at work where we did a silent holiday auction, a public raffle and an in-house raffle.”

The event was held in December with two holidays donated to the auction by Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Adaaran Resorts Maldives and Atrium Hotels & Resorts in Rhodes.

Letham has also planned a fire engine wash and more fundraisers locally to boost donations.

She said she was “hopeful” she would be able to raise the full amount in time for the anniversary of Mark’s passing, on September 2.

The memorial garden will be specially designed to cater for the machines needed by patients in the unit.

When the garden is completed, there will be a bench with a plaque for Mark and his name will be inscribed on the wall of the Critical Care Unit.

"So many people have been messaging me saying when the memorial garden is done, we will go and have a sit down and a coffee," she said. "It will just be a nice thing, not just for relatives but patients as well."

On May 13, Letham and her partner will attend a presentation to receive the Order of St John Award for Mark’s organ donation and will be commemorating August 13, Mark’s birthday and also organ donation day.