Women in Travel Retail+ (WiTR+) hosted a sold-out networking and panel discussion event hosted by Diageo in association with Heathrow Airport, in support of its 2026 charity partner, Morgan’s Army.
The event was held at Diageo’s London headquarters yesterday evening (9 June).
The evening featured special guests Natalie and Matthew Ridler, Co-Founders of Morgan’s Army, the South Wales-based charity established following the death of their son Morgan from cancer in June 2023 at the age of three.
Morgan’s Army was selected as the official WiTR+ charity partner for 2026 following a nomination by The Moodie Davitt Report Publisher Irene Revilla and the late Sinead Moodie before her passing in February.
Sinead’s husband, Adrian Miller, was another guest of honour on what would prove a special night for him and the Miller/Moodie family (see below).
Sinead conceived #KickCancerThon, the enormously successful ‘global + local’ travel retail campaign to raise funds and visibility for cancer research worldwide.
The Moodie Davitt Report (through MA Travel Retail, part of Mark Allen Group) was proud to announce a donation of £2,000 (US$2,700) to Morgan’s Army on top of an earlier significant donation by company Founder & Chairman (and Sinead’s father) Martin Moodie.
Addressing guests, Matthew Ridler said: “Morgan was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, adrenocortical carcinoma, and after an 18-month battle he passed away ten days before his fourth birthday.
“While Morgan was receiving treatment, Natalie began running raffles from his hospital bedside to raise money for the hospital and charities that supported our family. That grew into Morgan’s Army, established to support families across South Wales affected by childhood cancer.”
Matthew Ridler explained that the charity focuses on tangible support for families navigating childhood cancer.
“We focus on practical support where we identified gaps in provision, whether that’s helping with mortgages, bills, home renovations, gift vouchers or counselling and support programmes for siblings,” he said.
“When a child goes through cancer, the whole family is affected, and siblings are often overlooked despite everything they experience.”
{Click on the icon above to view Part 1 of a two-part edition of TRI-POD, our video podcast series in association with The SEVA Group, in which Natalie Ridler talks about how young Morgan was first diagnosed with cancer, the impact on the Ridler family and how grief shaped her sense of purpose. In Part 2 below, Natalie talks about Morgan’s Army and its unexpected connection with the travel retail community.}
Matthew Ridler highlighted the charity’s commitment to ensuring donations directly benefit those in need. “Every penny donated goes directly back into supporting families. The charity is entirely volunteer-led, with no salaries or expenses taken, ensuring all funds are used to help those who need it most.
“I wish Morgan was still here,” he added. “He isn’t, but he lives on through the work we do in his name.”
Natalie Ridler paid tribute to the support received from the travel retail community since Morgan’s Army became WiTR+’s chosen charity partner.
“The WiTR+ community has been incredible for us. It has given us a global platform and connected us to a worldwide community we never knew existed,” she said.
“I receive phone calls and emails from people across the world offering support for what we do. Just as importantly, they share memories and stories about Morgan. Knowing that Morgan’s story is being told around the world is something every parent would find deeply meaningful.
“When you lose a child, there is a feeling that they die twice: once when they pass away, and again when they are forgotten. We feel incredibly honoured that people know Morgan’s story and are supporting our work in his name.”
Natalie Ridler also acknowledged the role played by The Moodie Davitt Report and the wider travel retail community in supporting the charity.
“A big part of that has been The Moodie Davitt Report and its team. Through Sinead’s journey, people were looking for a Welsh charity to support in her honour, and they found us.
“Sadly, I never had the opportunity to meet Sinead,” she added. “I’m sure she was a wonderful person and I am deeply sorry that I didn’t get the chance to know her. However, she has already done so much for us as a charity and for the families we support.”
Natalie Ridler noted that funds raised through the partnership are already making a tangible difference.
“The funds raised have already been put to good use, helping siblings connect with other siblings through peer support and providing vital psychological support. These children are affected by cancer too, albeit in different ways from the child receiving treatment, and that support helps them navigate life after cancer.”
Announcing The Sinead Moodie Award
The evening also served as a poignant tribute to Sinead Moodie’s legacy as Natalie and Matthew Ridler announced the inaugural Sinead Moodie Award.
“In Sinead’s honour, we have created The Sinead Moodie Award. This award will be presented each year to someone who has demonstrated exceptional bravery, selflessness and consideration for others,” Natalie Ridler explained.
“We look forward to working with Sinead’s family, to ensure the award is presented to the right person each year.
“Through this award, we hope Sinead’s extraordinary generosity will continue to be recognised, while keeping her spirit of kindness and selflessness alive.”
The inaugural Sinead Moodie Award will be presented at the annual Morgan’s Army ball on 6 February 2027 at Swansea Arena.
The event also featured an all-women Trinity panel moderated by The Moodie Davitt Report Publisher Irene Revilla.
The distinguished line-up featured Heathrow Head of Category – Duty Free, Luxury Retail, High Street Retail and Shopping Services Nancy Stewart, Avolta Commercial Director World Duty Free UK Eve Fifer and Diageo Global Travel Marketing and Innovation Director Violeta Andreeva.
The panellists explored how airports, retailers and brands are embracing experiential retail, digital engagement and retail media to enhance the passenger journey.
They also discussed the challenges of driving innovation in a complex airport environment and shared their perspectives on the future of travel retail, highlighting the growing importance of collaboration, personalisation and experience-led retail.
The sold-out event underlined both the strength of the WiTR+ network and the travel retail industry’s commitment to supporting Morgan’s Army and the families it serves. ✈
