Families most in need get hols joy
DAIRY FIRM FUNDS TRIPS FOR POORLY CHILDREN IN THE REGION
A CHARITY initiative will see eight North East families with terminally or severely ill children go on allexpenses-paid summer holidays.
The trips to Center Parcs in Whinfell Forest, Cumbria, are funded by Hanover Dairies and its backers. In its inaugural year, four families were taken on holiday.
The Rainbow Trust children’s charity helped choose those taking part, and they include children and parents from Newcastle, Northumberland and Sunderland.
The week-long holiday experience is intended to help alleviate the day-to-day difficulties that families encounter with terminally or severely ill children.
Company boss Trevor Hanover, who is a patron of the Rainbow Trust, said: “The children and families encounter immense concerns on a day-to day basis and having quality time together is very rewarding.
“It’s an extremely beneficial experience for the children as well as parents and family members, who continue to provide care on a 24-hour basis for their children.
“Every penny raised by Hanover Dairies and its associate sponsors goes direct to funding the charitable initiative. Hanover Dairies pays for every family’s return journeys to Center Parcs. Each individual family also receives £1,000 to spending money as part of the package.”
The idea for the scheme came from Mr Hanover and the Blaydon-based company’s managing director Tony Baldwin, as part of the fundraising work under taken with the Rainbow Trust.
Mr Hanover also secured sponsorship from outside the region through London-based property company Appoint-moor Ltd, as well as charitable benefactors John and Annie Beaumont, Neil and Mel Harvey, Arnie and Katherine Kaplin and Michael Powney. Mr Hanover became involved with the Rainbow Trust in 2008 and has since raised more than £250,000 through his charity fund-raising activities. In 2016, he was named a ‘Point of Light’ by 10 Downing Street for his voluntary work for the Rainbow Trust charity. In November 2017, the company hosted the Hanover Charity Ball and raised more than £50,000 for the Rainbow Trust. Hanover Dairies was formed in 1976 and has since become one of the largest doorstep milk distributors in the UK. Mr Hanover started his business enterprise with a single milk round in Gateshead and has developed his business portfolio with depots at Blackpool, Manchester and Preston.
The children and families encounter immense concerns on a day-to-day basis Trevor Hanover