Yahoo Lifestyle Fortune Hotel couple using fame to help hospital
A couple who appeared on a reality TV show say they will use their raised profile to raise money for a children's hospital.
Tewkesbury Park Hotel commercial director Claire White and her husband Daniel were contestants on ITV's Fortune Hotel.
Millions of viewers have been watching the series, which has been compared to BBC show The Traitors.
The couple invited all the other contestants to watch the launch of the show at their Gloucestershire hotel.
The programme, hosted by Stephen Mangan and based in the Caribbean, follows 10 pairs trying to battle it out for £250,000 which is hidden in one suitcase.
Mrs White said it had been an "adventure of a lifetime".
"The idea of going away to sunnier weather and doing some challenges sounded wonderful," Mr White said.
"We never really thought that we'd make it through the selection process - but yeah, delighted when we did."
The couple are now using their new fame to raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital through a Justgiving page.
'Eternally grateful'
"It's a charity that with there's always been really close to our hearts," said Mr White.
"When my younger sister was born she was extremely poorly, and she spent the first three and a half months of her life in Birmingham Children's which was, I think, the most difficult time of my parents' lives.
"So we were just phenomenally grateful - really they they saved her life.
And she's she's now very fit and healthy and working as a teacher - we're just for eternally grateful."
The family have owned the Tewkesbury hotel for 10 years and during that time say they have spent millions refurbishing it.
Mrs White said appearing on Fortune Hotel has had a really positive effect on their business.
"We've seen a real uptick in visitors to our website," she said.
"There's been the odd comment, I think, to the team with people who have obviously watched the show, and then are coming along and and ask if we're around and so that's lovely."
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