Parents of murdered Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry receive Pride of Britain award
The Pride of Britain awards have recognised the families of South Shields travel apprentice Chloe Rutherford and her boyfriend Liam Curry, who died in the Manchester Arena bombing last May.
The teenage sweethearts were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the lobby at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
Chloe’s parents Mark and Lisa and Liam’s mum Caroline received a special recognition award for the launch of the Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust, which aims to help aspiring performers and young sports men and women.
The trust, which has raised more than £20,000 so far, is supported by Westoe Travel, where Chloe, aged 17, was an apprentice. It has also gained backing from Newcastle and Sunderland managers Rafa Benitez and Chris Coleman and rapper Stormzy.
Mark Rutherford said: "We want to help people achieve their goals, to fulfil their dreams. That was something that was taken away from Chloe and Liam.
"Chloe loved to sing and play piano, she also wrote songs and enjoyed getting involved with everything backstage. Liam was a huge cricket fan and player. He had just passed his coaching badges and was teaching young kids.
"There are so many talented people out there that can’t afford to go any further. It would be amazing a few years down the line to see someone at the Olympics or in the West End, doing what they love because of Chloe and Liam."
Bursaries are currently open to anyone living in the north east, and there are plans to extend the scheme nationally.
Chloe’s mum Lisa said: "We’re in a position that the kids are never forgotten and although their ambitions were torn away from them, somebody else’s children will hopefully be able to fulfil their potential and that’s because of Chloe and Liam. Winning this award is going to help get the word out to many more people. We feel the kids would be really proud with what we have achieved and that the people have taken us to their hearts."
Liam’s mum Caroline added: "When we first started, we did it because so many people wanted us to do something. Even strangers were messaging us saying they wanted to do something. It gives us a purpose – it would have been easy to crawl into a shell and never come out. But that would have meant those two gorgeous kids we brought into this world would have left without leaving their mark."
"The community just wanted to give so much we were almost in a situation where we needed to do something. The enthusiasm for the trust is there in shed loads. You always think you’re own kids are special, but to have all those other people come out and say they were and want to help is just wow."
She added "They have made such an impact on so many lives, it’s heartwarming so many people loved them as much as we did."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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