Aim

Ruddi’s Retreat is now helping grieving children who have lost parents to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ruddi's Background

Ruddi's was founded by Ali Waterworth in June 2011, after her son Ruddi was diagnosed with Rhabdomarsacoma, a cancer of the soft tissue. During the two years Ruddi battled through intensive treatment, including chemotherapy, the children’s cancer charity Candlelighters gave Ruddi and his family a week’s holiday at Primrose Valley Caravan Park in Filey. 

It was from here that Ali began her journey to help other families in a similar way to how they were helped.

10 Years On

For over 10 years, Ruddi's has now helped over 700 families from across the UK, suffering from the effects and after effects of cancer treatment, life limiting illnesses or bereavement by providing free family holidays at one of their four static caravans at Primrose Valley in Filey.

The effects of the pandemic on both the charity financially and the enforced national lockdown's has sadly meant that many families have been unable to make use of the caravans. During the pandemic, there were reductions in cancer treatments and operations due to the pressure that the NHS were under, which has sadly resulted in families loving loved ones.

Ruddi's Aim

Now that lockdown measures have been eased, it is Ruddi's ambition to provide as many families as possible with free breaks. It costs the charity on average £220 per family for a weeks holiday at one of their four static caravans and with the impact of the pandemic, they need to raise funds to continue to provide these much needed breaks. 

Royal Visit

In July this year, Ruddi's welcomed back The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson at their new coffee and cake shop in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield having relocated the shop during the pandemic.  The Duchess announced during her visit that she would be getting even more involved with Ruddi's as she took the mantle of Patron of Ruddi's from the University of Huddersfield's Vice-Chancellor, Bob Cryan. This was incredible news for everyone involved with Ruddi's!

This project successfully funded on 21st September 2021