Chloe and Liam: ‘The industry played a massive role supporting us’
Former MemberWestoe Travel director Graeme Brett has thanked the travel industry for the "massive role" it played in supporting the agency and its team following the death five years ago of apprentice Chloe Rutherford and partner Liam Curry in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
Chloe, 17, and Liam, 19, were among the 22 innocent victims of the attack on 22 May 2017 when Salman Abedi detonated a homemade explosive device in the venue’s foyer following an Ariana Grande concert. Westoe is set to play a key role this weekend in efforts commemorating the young couple, including a memorial service on Sunday (22 May).
As has become tradition, Chloe and Liam’s local South Shields community will turn the town pink and blue in their honour, with businesses hosting a range of fundraising activities to raise money for the Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust set up in their memory.
At the time of the attack, Chloe was just beginning her career in travel with Westoe and was an aspiring musician, while Liam was a keen sportsman who aspired to join the police force. The trust raises money in their name, which is then redistributed in the community to help young people achieve their potential in performance arts and sport. To date, it has supported more than 1,000 youngsters.
“The travel industry played a massive role in supporting us," Brett told TTG ahead of the activities to mark the fifth anniversary of Chloe and Liam’s passing, and ensure their memory and legacy lives on in their local community.
"At the time, we had to raise money for the families of Chloe and Liam, because they had to give their jobs up following the deaths. We raised more than £33,000 from donations across the travel industry and the various events they held."
Brett also praised the support Westoe received from Abta LifeLine, adding the team was grateful for the resource made available. “When it comes to grieving an employee, friend or family member, I think it’s important to talk to other people and get support from those around you,” he said.
Brett said Westoe would be among those businesses proudly displaying pink and blue hearts in the shop’s window. "We’re very visible here on the main road,” Brett said. “We’re all going to the service too. When the anniversary fell on a weekday, we would close the shop to attend."
A number of fundraising events are being held this year to support the trust, including a gala dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead and a charity dance at Harton Academy, while local brewery One More Than Two has created a special IPA to mark the occasion with a proportion of the proceeds going to the trust.
Earlier this year, comic Jason Manford, former pro footballer Robbie Savage and TV presenter Paddy McGuinness were among stars to take part in a charity football match, which raised £16,500 for the trust.
Altrincham-based agent Ken Garrity, director of Ken Garrity Travel and host on Radio Alty, helped to promote the event. Full details of the events can be found on the trust’s Facebook page.
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