Our chosen charity
The Travel Retail Consortium (TRC) has announced that its chosen charity for 2026 is MacMillan Cancer Support, a decision taken by members to support the global GTR industry initiative #KickCancerThon in memory of Sinead Moodie, who sadly passed away on February 1 after launching this campaign to raise global awareness of cancer charities.
As part of this collaboration, the Consortium will be raising funds through various initiatives, kicking off at TFWA WE in 2026 with prize raffle during the annual cocktail evening, kindly hosted by Heinken.
Then members plus family, friends and industry colleagues are taking part in the London Halloween Walk (10k) on October 31, suitably dressed in spooky attire. All donations are very welcome and can be made through this Link:
This year’s effort follows an incredible fund-raising year for Alzheimer’s Research UK which saw members taking part in two charity walks in the Peak District and Cotswolds. An incredible £19,687.09 + Gift Aid was raised – smashing the ambitious £18k target. This will fund a PHD student for a year and help in the ongoing work to find a cure and create a future free from the heartbreak of dementia.
Previous charity partners
| Charity | Amount raised |
|---|---|
| Alzheimer’s Research | £23,000 |
| Family Holiday Charity | £4,550 |
| Chestnut Tree House | £4,000 |
| Children's Hyperinsulin | £1,045 |
| Beacon Centre | £2,300 |
| Guillain Barre | £1,020 |
| Comic Relief | £2,360 |
| Royal Marsden | £2,151 |
Total amount raised to date: £17,426
“We are incredibly proud to support Alzheimer’s Research UK as our charity of the year for 2025. If nothing changes, one in two of us will be directly affected by dementia – either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both. We believe it is crucial that we come together as an industry to help fund vital research to change this. These walks offer a fantastic opportunity to unite, raise awareness, and contribute to this life-changing cause. We encourage everyone in the travel retail sector to get involved and make a difference.”
This year’s charity was put forward by TRC member Julie Hawkins of Coti Vision who explains:
“As an official supporter of Alzheimer’s Research UK, this cause is deeply personal to me after my sister, Sue, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact of this disease, and with no cure and limited treatments, research is crucial to driving the breakthroughs we desperately need. I invite you to join us in this mission. Together, we can make a difference—walk with us for a cure and help bring hope to those affected.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Travel Retail Consortium in their efforts to raise both awareness and vital funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Every step taken during their fundraising walks will bring us closer to a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. We are deeply thankful to have the Travel Retail Consortium standing with us for a cure and look forward to seeing the travel retail community come together to create a lasting impact.”
