Article
Jet2.com and Manchester Airport host charity fundraiser and aviation fan for a behind-the-scenes tour
Published: Fri 30 Jan 2026 at 13:40
Jet2.com and Manchester Airport teamed up to treat a teenage aviation fan from Yorkshire, who has raised thousands of pounds for Sheffield Children's Hospital, to a special access-all-areas experience at the airport.
15-year-old Aroob Rashid, from Sheffield, suffers from a rare genetic condition which sadly resulted in the death of her five-year-old brother in 2023.
Since then, and despite the challenges posed by her own disability, Aroob has fundraised for Sheffield Children’s Hospital and has campaigned for greater awareness of the difficulties faced by children with rare illnesses, spreading the word to businesses, mosques, community groups, and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield. She has even taken her message to the Houses of Parliament and the Scottish Parliament, where she met former First Minister, Humza Yousaf.
Aroob helped establish the hospital’s Moon and Stars campaign during Ramadan last year, with 57 local organisations and businesses each sponsoring a star on a giant mural outside the hospital, ultimately raising in excess of £20,000 – and due to be repeated this year. She also fundraises for Bluebell Wood Hospice, who care for her, and is backing Rotherham United Community Trust’s ‘50K Power Play’ campaign to raise £50,000 for powerchair football in South Yorkshire.
After Aroob’s family contacted Manchester Airport to arrange a behind-the-scenes VIP tour of the airport, the airport reached out to Jet2.com to help make some extra special memories. The tour included a meet and greet with a Jet2.com pilot and cabin crew onboard an aircraft, as well as a visit to the cockpit where she saw how everything worked.
Reflecting on her experience, Aroob, said: “Going behind the scenes at Manchester Airport was amazing! Everyone was so kind and made me feel really special. Thank you to Manchester Airport’s special team for making this visit possible and for being so welcoming. I loved learning how the planes get ready to fly. It’s really cool to think that by visiting the airport I can also help people find out about the charities I care about, like Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Bluebell Wood Hospice.”
Aroob’s father, Haroon, who also attended the tour, added: “We’re incredibly grateful for the warmth, care and enthusiasm Manchester Airport has shown to Aroob. Knowing that her efforts — and the causes close to her heart — are being supported in this way is very special for her and for us as a family. Despite the challenges she faces on a daily basis, Aroob is passionate about helping other children with complex needs. We’re very thankful to Manchester Airport for being part of that and for championing her efforts.”
Ed Kibblewhite, Accessibility Manager at Manchester Airport, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Aroob to the airport, and we are delighted that she has made so many special memories. Her story is such an inspiration, and we believe a big part of our role in serving the North is not just through connecting people in the North West, Yorkshire and beyond with destinations across the globe, but also using our platform to support people like Aroob and her family and to help raise awareness of important causes such as this one. I’d also like to thank the colleagues who took it upon themselves to arrange this special experience for Aroob – they are a credit to themselves and the airport as a whole.”
Steve Wilson, Assisted Travel Manager at Jet2.com, added: “Aroob is an absolute inspiration, so it was a privilege to welcome her onboard one of our aircraft and provide a behind-the-scenes look at our award-winning operations. Our team were thrilled to be able to play their part in a day that has created so many special memories, and we wish Aroob all the best as she continues with her vital campaigning work.”
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