HCPT has recently received two generous grants from the Lady Ryder of Warsaw Memorial Trust. With this funding, more children will have the opportunity to experience a pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes, France in Easter 2024.

The late Lady Ryder, Sue Ryder, was a British volunteer in the Special Operations Executive in the Second World War who afterwards established charitable organisations, notably the Sue Ryder Foundation. She set up the Lady Ryder of Warsaw Memorial Trust shortly before her death in 2000 so that her work caring for disabled and disadvantaged people would continue, including supporting people with disabilities in going to Lourdes.

This coming Easter, the trust is generously funding five children to travel with HCPT. HCPT offers pilgrimages holidays to Lourdes, situated in the south of France, every Easter for disabled and disadvantaged children and young people from across the UK, supported by trained and vetted volunteers.

The funding from the trust will also support student nurses from the North East of England who will travel with HCPT this Easter as part of their student placement. This initiative will not only benefit those aspiring nurses but also all the young people who will be in their care over the week.

George Overton, HCPT's Head of Fundraising and Communications, said "We're so grateful to the trustees of the Lady Ryder Trust for supporting HCPT's next Easter pilgrimage. Their grants will mean that more disabled and disadvantaged children benefit from a life changing week in Lourdes."