A FUN-FILLED evening raised £1,234 for a charity organisation as they target £1million by July 2014 to open a countryside retreat for bereaved families.
Reuben’s Retreat was set up after little Reuben Graham passed away aged just 23 months after a short battle with a rare and aggressive cancerous brain tumour.
Inspired by the support and staff they encountered, Reuben’s parents, Nicola and Mike, and other family members decided to launch a charity in his memory.
Their primary goal is to open a retreat in the North West of England, where families who have a child suffering with a life limiting or life threatening illness can take respite breaks.
The centre will also serve as a bereavement counselling and support centre to help families and their friends who have suffered the loss of a child to remember and rebuild their lives.
And in order to raise the funds, Team Reuben have been organising events including cake sales, concerts, a zumbathon, selling 12,000 Christmas cards and head shaves.
Their latest event saw Uppermill-based banjo and ukulele group The Barn Howlerstake to the stage to entertain as around 100 guests also enjoyed a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and cake sale.
Reuben’s mum, Nicola, said: “We cannot reach our £1 million goal without the support of our community. Our project in its entirety will take more than a million andwill also need future fundraising to run it.
“When our communities come together it is heart-warming. They come in droves, an army of love and support like nothing else.
“When you lose a child, you encounter many dark stormy days. On those darkest of clouds the silver linings are our supporters and new friends we have met on this incredible new journey of Reuben’s.
“Together we can achieve so much. I thank every single person that has supported and donated to our fledgling charity. A charity borne from loss, hope and grief”
Upcoming fundraising events include a performance of Cinderella at Stockport Plazawith The Bristol Russian Youth Ballet School on February 16 and the Great Manchester Run on May 18.
If you would like to help Reuben’s Retreat, please email enquiries@reubensretreat.org and find out more by visiting their website www.reubensretreat.org
For more information on events and for tickets, please visit their website.
You must be logged in to post a comment.