Travel industry rallies to support cancer charity spearheaded by agent

Travel companies from across the industry have lined up to support a new cancer charity founded by The Travel Academy’s marketing manager Clare Sacco.

Embers provides support and resources for young people between the ages of 18 and 40 who are facing an incurable prognosis with the disease.

Sacco founded it after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, and subsequently treatable but incurable stage-four cancer in 2023.

Embers will host its inaugural fundraising event on September 10 with a luxury auction, raffle and entertainment held at The Village Hotel in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

Brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Uniworld River Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Azamara Cruises, Explora Journeys, Silversea Cruises and Hays Travel have offered donations and prizes for the auction.

Prizes include a seven-night cruise with flights from Uniworld River Cruises, a cruise with Azamara, a £500 voucher from Hays Travel and a three-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton Abama in Tenerife.

Proceeds from the charity’s first fundraiser will help to create a resource offering advice and information for young adults diagnosed with incurable or terminal cancer in partnership with Trekstok, a charity that supports people in their 20s and 30s living with the disease. The resource will be distributed in hospitals and available online.

“Whilst many incredible charities exist to help children and teens, as well as older people diagnosed with cancer, I found there was very little to support young adults facing an incurable or terminal prognosis,” Sacco said.

“Embers was born to provide the help that I was searching for in one place, to help remove additional pressure at what is already an incredibly distressing time.

“The Embers charity event in September marks the first step on our journey to helping young people like me, not only through support and guidance provided through fundraising and grants but also to dispel the myth that being diagnosed at a ‘young age’ still means after turning 40.

“The reality is that more young people are being diagnosed than ever before so it’s time to change the narrative and encourage those in their 20s and 30s to get symptoms checked, to enable earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.”

Sacco added that she was “overwhelmed” by the support shown from both her colleagues at The Travel Academy and businesses across the industry.