ABTA LifeLine is calling on all ABTA Members to get involved in its annual Big Charity Week!

The Big Charity Week is ABTA LifeLine's annual fundraising and awareness week that encourages colleagues to get together, host a fun and exciting event - big or small - and raise money for ABTA LifeLine.

This is only the second year that the week has been run. The charity hopes to exceed the amount raised last year by offering Members lots of different ways to get involved, whether it is by joining in one of the official events, such as Lunch for your Lifeline or Members coming up with their own ideas to raise money.

Throughout the week the charity will also be encouraging Members to spread the word and tell colleagues how ABTA LifeLine can help them and their families, and to share their events, pictures and stories on twitter (@abtalifeline) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/abtalifeline). A number of companies have already signed up to the week including Midcounties Cooperative, Shearings, Wexas, Kuoni and Superbreak.

As part of their charity week Shearings will be hosting an indoor obstacle putting competition,  an inter-departmental space hopper relay championship as well as bringing to life the world famous App/Game ‘Paper toss’.

ABTA LifeLine Director, Trudie Drake, said: ”We want the industry to get involved, have fun and fundraise, and help us to help people in the travel industry that have fallen on hard times. We have lots of events that Members can get involved with or Members can find their own quirky or fun ways to fundraise.”

One person that was helped this year by ABTA LifeLine was Alex.

In 2011, aged just 30, Alex was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND). MND is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurons, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means that messages gradually stop reaching muscles which leads to weakness and wasting. The disease can affect how people walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.

ABTA LifeLine was delighted to help Alex by buying Eye Gaze technology to allow him to communicate effectively and retain his independence. You can read Alex’s story here: www.abtalifeline.org.uk/need-our-help/our-stories/story/alexs-story.

Find out more about the charity week at: www.abtalifeline.org.uk/about-us/big-charity-week.