Citywing is delighted to name Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man and Craig's Heartstrong Foundation as its joint Charities of the Year for 2016.

Due to an overwhelming response from local charities applying to be its Charity of the Year, Citywing took the decision to offer support to not one but two organisations this year.

Both of the Isle of Man-based charities will receive 12 return tickets to use for fundraising during the year on any Citywing routes to and from the Island, the donation of proceeds from the popular annual ‘Plane Pull’ event, and the chance to show a promotional video on Citywing flights.

Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man is a confidential bereavement support service that promotes the wellbeing of bereaved people, and offers support to anyone bereaved to help understand their grief and cope with their loss.

Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation was set up by family and friends of Craig Lunt, a young Manx footballer who died in 2005 due to an undiagnosed heart defect. The charity raises funds to enable heart screening of people aged 14-35 on the Island, and to purchase and donate lifesaving defibrillator equipment to local schools and sports clubs.

David Buck, Managing Director of Citywing, said: ‘We received a huge number of Charity of the Year applications this year from a variety of worthy causes, which made it very difficult for us to choose just one. We are very pleased to be able to support two local charities for 2016, and excited to be working with both Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man and Craig's Heartstrong Foundation in a number of ways throughout the year.

‘Both of these charities contribute enormously to the wellbeing of our Island’s community, and we are honoured to assist in raising funds for and awareness of their services to help ensure that they continue. It is both a responsibility and a pleasure for us, as a local business, to support the important work the charity sector carries out in the Isle of Man.’

Les Watson, Chairman at Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man, said: ‘Our charity is delighted to have been selected as Citywing’s joint Charity of the Year for 2016. We look forward to working with Citywing to help us raise awareness and important funds, so that we can continue to help bereaved people in the Isle of Man.’

Paul Healey, Chairman at Craig's Heartstrong Foundation, added: ‘We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as one of the charities that Citywing will support during 2016. We would like to thank them for their support, not only for us, but for all the charities that they help each year. We will ensure that all money raised for Craig's Heartstrong Foundation will continue to be put to good use here on the Isle of Man.’

Citywing’s Charity of the Year for 2015 was Diana Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust, which funds nursing staff to provide a ‘Hospice at Home’ service in the Isle of Man.

Ron Spencer, Chairman of Diana Princess of Wales Care at Home Trust, said: ‘The enthusiastic team at Citywing were a fantastic help to us as the chosen charity for 2015. The Plane Pull was a particularly great success, and was a fun way for the community to get involved with the charity.

‘We are thrilled that this partnership helped to both raise funds for and awareness of our charity throughout 2015, and would like to thank Citywing for their invaluable support and personal commitment. We wish them well for their continued community efforts during 2016.’

Photo - (L-R): Les Watson and Amanda Cafaero of Cruse Bereavement Care Isle of Man, Donna Sloane, Sales and Marketing Manager at Citywing, Paula Lunt and Paul Healey of Craig's Heartstrong Foundation.