Local charities have the chance to take a share of an amazing £128,000 cash giveaway.
The Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of The Northern Echo's parent company, is providing £128,000 in cash to support charities across the country.
The Foundation asked the public to decide where this money should go.
People nominated in their thousands and a shortlist of 10 charities in each region will now be in with a shout of sharing in the £16,000 giveaway.
Read more: The North East kids' charity getting a slice of £16k from Northern Echo prize
The public voted for some brilliant charities doing great work, one being Quinn’s Retreat in Barnard Castle.
The charity was set up after two parents lost their 17-year-old daughter, Quinn, to suicide in December 2018.
That Christmas the family decided to stay away in a caravan for a few days to spend quality time together.
It was not until almost a year later, in October 2019 when Dyllon, Quinn’s 21-year-old brother also committed suicide, that the idea of caravan holidays for families affected by suicide was spawned.
Read more: Readers' Choice Cash for Charities: The charities from the North East YOU voted for
Mrs Beadle told The Northern Echo: “After Quinn’s funeral we had a short break away and it was just so lovely to talk about her and have that time together as a family away from everyone else so we could just have that time together and we could just be anonymous knowing that no one knew our story.
“I talked to Dyllon and we decided it would be a good idea to give something back to other people going through bereavement through suicide and to offer people the chance to have a break away and we thought that buying a caravan was the cheapest way of doing that.”
The charity officially launched in January 2020, shortly following Dyllon’s death.
Tracey and her husband David are seeking £3000 toward the general maintenance of the holiday homes, to ensure they can keep providing this service to those most in need.
Mrs Beadle continued: “Everyone always says how calming and tranquil it is and when they arrive there’s a welcome hamper and food in the fridge in case they don’t want to go out. We now have another caravan in Appleby called Dyl's Den so we can cater for more families and we’re currently fundraising for a holiday cottage.
“Lockdown hit just as we were getting started with Quinn’s Retreat so that hit our fundraising hard and so we’ve had to try to make up for that by doing online fundraising but of course any extra financial help would be really appreciated.”
Read next:
- County Durham mum's double heartbreak after children, 17 and 21, take their own lives
- County Durham mum bereaved by suicide of daughter and son wins unsung hero award
- Cash for Charities - If U Care Share one of vital services Echo scheme supported
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