Prior to the fundraiser, which was held last week in Elstree, Embers founder Clare Sacco – who has been with London-headquartered cruise specialist The Travel Academy since 2016 – had hoped to raise £10,000.
But following a flurry of donations from cruise lines and travel partners – and even a £100 donation from one of the waiters at the event on 10 September – Clare and her team eventually took £34,000 on the night.
"I don’t think we could have asked for a much better start,” Clare told TTG. “The support has been incredible. It’s such an amazing start."
Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2019, Clare – who is 30 – identified “a gap” in support for young adults with the same prognosis.
She decided, with the help of another "12 to 14 people", to set up Embers to provide resources to young adults diagnosed with incurable or terminal cancer to ensure young people in her position "do not feel alone".
Asked about specific donations, Clare said she was amazed when a waiter approached her at the end of the event asking to donate.
“The most surprising donation was from a member of the waiting team who had heard the speeches and at the end of the night approached me on behalf of his mum,” she added.
“He donated £100. He would not have earned £100 that night. He did not go into detail about the donation, but said it was on behalf of his mum.”
Clare was also taken aback by The Travel Academy director Jane Goldsmith’s remarks on stage. “Jane had a very similar experience to me when she was younger – she spoke just before me on stage,” said Clare.
“She talked about her diagnosis and how she had a year to live when she was in her 30s and had a young family. At the time, there was a trial in the US, which she managed to get on.
“She talked about how The Travel Academy wanted to support Embers. That really resonated with the guests. I had never known her full story. It was not something that she had spoken a lot about before.”
Clare plans to host another fundraising event in Newcastle in early 2025, which will be aimed primarily at her family and friends. “There will be more people that know me at the event,” added Clare. “This first fundraiser was predominantly guests from the travel industry.
"The travel industry has been so pivotal in the launch of the charity. They will always have a presence in anything Embers does.”
Oceania Cruises’ UK and Ireland sales director Louise Craddock, who attended Embers’ debut fundraiser, said: "Clare is one of life’s all-rounders. Her ability to achieve anything makes her one of this generation’s best young people.
Clare inspires, educates and cares for the young community facing this dreadful disease. Despite her ailments she is giving back through her Embers charity. I encourage everybody inside and outside travel to support her charity."
