Every year thousands of Brits pack their bags and make their way to Manchester Airport to jet off on holiday for sun, sand and excitement.
We often create lifelong happy memories to treasure whilst on holiday – they are great for re-charging our batteries and can be a way to expand our horizons.
However there are families that have never been able to enjoy a breakaway together having to nurse their ill children, unable to take a break from daily and weekly hospital visits.
Stephen Sefton, a 55 year-old airport worker from Cheadle Heath, has dedicated the past 26 years to the charity ChildFlight to give sick and deserving children the holiday of their dreams.
Stephen’s efforts to raise money for the charity have seen him throw himself into a number of crazy stunts and activities.
Over the years he has walked over hot coals and broken glass, run several 10K races in Manchester as well as trekking Snowdon in adverse weather conditions.
He said: “I know many local children see the aeroplanes each day as they fly over their homes, schools, parks and many local families remain unable to afford a flight.
“Over the years it has been greatly self-rewarding to see over 4,000 children enjoy flights.”
Stephen is the Front of House Facilities Manager at Manchester Airport and Chair of the airport-based charity ChildFlight.
The charity offers flights and holidays for sick and deserving children of all ages and their families.
Back in 1987, Stephen had no idea just how much the charity would become part of his life, as he initially started of just helping the charity with their accounts.
Over the last 26 years he has taken on more and more responsibility, becoming Chairperson and organising annual Santa flights and trips to Florida.
Karen Davies, one of the charity’s trustees, said that Stephen does a fantastic job pulling the Florida trips together.
She said: “Steve has the role of admin and organising behind the scenes and does the brilliantly – he is a very kind and caring man.”
The team at ChildFlight have sent 543 children with potentially life threatening or debilitating illnesses together with their families to wonderful holidays in Florida.
The next trip to Florida is due to take place in October and November this year and past trips have included visits to Disneyworld, SeaWorld and Universal Studios.
Leanne Davies, a committee member and volunteer at ChildFlight, says that without Stephen the trips to Florida would not be the same.
She said: “Steve is a truly great guy who has worked incredibly hard for ChildFlight for many years.
“He is known as Dad to his Florida team as he looks after us all. He is always entertaining the kids and causing mischief.”
Stephen admits that running the charity has impacted family life as he spends many hours doing the paperwork and taking part in events.
However he is thankful that his family have been so supportive over the years and his wife, children and grandchildren have always been heavily involved with the charity.
He said: “Santa Flights have become a Sefton family tradition, Santa is my Dad, Santa’s little helpers include my Mum, brother, wife, daughters, sister-in-law and nieces and even the dog, Murphy, gets involved.”
TRIP OF A LIFETIME: Stephen and the children at Disneyland, Florida
The charity has sent an amazing 4,066 socially deserving children on ChildFlight Santa flights.
ChildFlight has also provided more than 268 flights for children to travel abroad for treatment and therapies.
Stephen’s brother Jason Sefton is also heavily involved with ChildFlight and is full of praise for his eldest brother.
He said: “I can honestly say nobody pushes more for Childflight than Stephen, I think I can speak for the rest of the committee on that!
“Without Stephen, ChildFlight would struggle to carry on, I can say even though he is my brother, he will bend over backwards for the charity so we can keep doing what we do – he is a true inspiration to all.”
Jason added that Stephen spends months planning the trips and coming up with ideas for fundraisers – the last one being a coast to coast bike ride which involved more than 20 people.
He is so passionate about the charity and the work that he gives all of his free-time to it in the hope that he and the other volunteers can make a difference.
He said: “It means the world to be able to make a difference to so many children and families, I do not play golf or football, most of my spare time is spent applying the skills and knowledge I use at work to encourage fund raising and organise the flights and holidays.”
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