Travel firms in £10k plea for teen victims

FAILSWORTH travel agent Jill Waite

A TRAVEL agent in Failsworth hopes to raise £10,000 to support the families of a young couple who were victims of the Manchester terror attack.

Owners of Pole Travel in Oldham Road have partnered up with Ken Garrity Travel in Altrincham to raise the money for the families of former colleague Chloe Rutherford (17) and her boyfriend Liam Curry (19).

Chloe worked part-time for family travel agency Westoe Travel in South Shields, but was due to become a permanent member of staff this month.

Three days after the terror attack at Manchester Arena, in a joint statement via Greater Manchester Police, the teenagers' loved ones confirmed their passing, saying "their wings were ready, but our hearts were not".

Jill Waite, of Pole Travel, and Ken Garrity said: "Chloe was part of the travel industry so we wanted to do something for the couple's families.

"Chloe was an apprentice travel agent, just like my daughter.

"Ken has previously been on trips with staff at Westoe Travel and already had that connection, so we wanted to raise funds for Chloe and Liam."

Chloe was studying a music course at Newcastle College, but had been working three days a week at Westoe Travel near her home in South Tyneside.

The company was due to take the "popular student" on full-time in June when she finished college.

Westoe Travel said on its website: "As a small family business, Chloe was part of our family, working part-time as she completed her college studies before starting full-time with us on June 26 to begin her Travel Apprenticeship.

"We loved her friendly, happy personality and she was a great asset to Westoe Travel and had a great future ahead in the travel industry which she was really looking forward to.

"Liam would meet her from work and they were a perfect loving couple.

"The families have lost two beautiful young people who were a credit to them and our thoughts and prayers go to both families at this terrible time."

Jill and Ken set up a JustGiving page to help the families with any costs they may have such as covering the cost of the funerals.

So far more than £1,500 has been donated, mainly from colleagues within the travel business.

Jill said: "Thank you to everyone for their support so far. The response has been great but please keep on donating."

To donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chloewesthoetravel.