Glossop charity Reuben's Retreat has launched a new fund-raising project called One In A Million to fund the final stages of its building project.
The campaign to raise £1million for the final build mirrors the initial target set when the charity was first founded in August 2012 following the death of Reuben Michael Graham aged just 23 months.
Nicola Graham, Reuben’s mother and founder of Reuben’s Retreat, pledged to raise £1million in 23 months to buy the Retreat, which supports families who have suffered the loss of a child or have a child living with medical complexities.
Supporters held bake sales, ran, hiked and got inventive to smash the fundraising target, which allowed the charity to purchase the old Wood’s Hospital and begin renovations, planned in 10 phases.
Now Nicola and her dedicated team are asking fundraisers old and new to help them replicate that success to realise their mission to complete the build, with the final stages comprising of four self-catering holiday suites for family beneficiaries, including two fully accessible ground-floor apartments.
Nicola said: “When Reuben passed away, the £1million target was very much a tangible goal to hold on to as we navigated our grief and we were overwhelmed, not just by people’s generosity, but by their love and support.
"Many of those initial fundraisers are still huge advocates for our cause and we are calling on them, and those new to our charity, to help us smash this ambitious target and create a special and much needed sanctuary for the families we support.”
The four purpose built apartments will be situated in a wing of the Retreat’s main building, with easy access to the hydrotherapy suite, movie and sensory rooms which opened in Summer 2021.
Nicola added: “Reuben was one in a million and so are all of our supporters.
"We firmly believe that everyone has something to bring to Reuben’s Retreat. From fundraising and volunteering to spreading the word about the beautiful work we do, we want to mobilise these many champions to help us smash £1million.
"We’ve created a special logo for the campaign, filled with meaningful touches relevant to our charity, so look out for it online and in person.
“The apartments will enable us to offer support to the ever-growing number of families who need it and offer them more opportunities to spend invaluable family time together. It’s a place to relax, recharge, remember and rebuild.
"Today we are actively supporting more than 750 individuals and over the years we have touched the lives of over 2000 people.”
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