NEWS — GLOBE TRAVEL AWARDS 2014
Reuben’s Retreat revealed the first picture of the property it hopes will become a retreat for families nationwide at the Globe Travel Awards. JULIET DENNIS reports
The vision is becoming reality for Reuben’s Retreat. The charity, started by Nicola and Mike Graham after the death of their 23-month-old son Reuben in August 2012, is already helping other parents of children who have passed away or have terminal illnesses. But within the next few weeks the charity hopes to reach a key landmark – the acquisition of a 20-bedroom former hospital site in the northwest of England.
Building for the future For the first time, the charity unveiled a photograph of the impressive building exclusively to the trade at last week’s Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards, in part to recognise the support the industry has given the cause. The building, located on a
1.4-acre site 12 miles from Manchester and 24 miles from Sheffield, will provide a retreat for families nationwide that Nicola, formerly of Red Sea Holidays and Mike, of Celebrity Cruises, have so desperately wanted to help others facing a similar ordeal to the one they faced just 18 months ago.
Opening in May Nicola is hopeful the charity can start to offer bereavement counselling as soon as May, in what she calls the first phase of the charity’s project.
Penny Akam Unsung Hero Award
sponsored by
Michelle Leonard receives her Globe award from Angela Day, Affordable Car Hire, and Travel Weekly’s Stuart Parish and Lucy Huxley
“We expect to
open by mid- May to offer counselling on the site and virtually,” she said. “We already have 20 bereaved parents on our books who have found us mainly through our Facebook page and we are already making a difference to people’s lives. I meet about one bereaved parent a week.” The charity also has about 20 UK holiday breaks to offer families, donated by Hoseasons caravan owners touched by the work the charity is doing. The second phase will involve
renovating the building, with plans including creating an orangery to provide tea rooms and an ice-cream parlour. A third phase features a hydrotherapy pool and four apartments sleeping up to eight family members.
Raising another £300,000 But to make all this possible the charity needs to maintain its funding levels. “We have raised £700,000 but
we still need to hit £1 million by July,” said Nicola. “The money raised so far will
allow us to open, do phase one and start phase two.” Keeping up the momentum will
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travelweekly.co.uk — 23 January 2014
Former hospital: Reuben’s Retreat
be no mean feat, admitted Nicola, adding: “We are still going to need more support. “Hopefully,
people can see what we have
achieved in such a small amount of time.” The pace at which the charity
is working is testament to the dedication of Nicola and Mike as well as project manager Ali Rothwell. “I don’t really stop and think about it; there is always another job to do,” said Nicola. The charity is also serving another important purpose – to help the family get through the grieving process for their son Reuben, in whose memory the charity was founded and whose short life will never be forgotten.
Michelle Leonard wins the Penny Akam Unsung Hero Award
Travel Counsellors agent Michelle Leonard won the Penny Akam Unsung Hero Award at the Globe Travel Awards in recognition of her tireless fundraising for Reuben’s Retreat.
Michelle first met Nicola and Mike when her husband Darren, an Elvis tribute singer, provided the music at Reuben’s first birthday and christening party. “We became good friends with Nicola and Mike. So when Reuben died we were there for them and wanted to do all we could to help,” she said. Michelle, with her husband’s help, smashed a fundraising target of £10,000 to reach £11,500 by October after organising events including a Rockin’ for Reuben Elvis tribute night, Zumba and golf days. Since then the couple have
raised another £4,500 at another Elvis tribute night. Michelle said: “I am shocked to win this. I don’t feel I need to be recognised – how can you not help Reuben’s Retreat? We will support it for ever.”
GLOBE TRAVEL AWARDS 2014
Reuben’s Retreat bids for property
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