A HELENSBURGH couple are looking forward to spending 10 nights in the tropical luxury of the Maldives after scooping top prize in a competition.
Katy and Sam Cannadine got married in 2009 and have only spent one night alone together since their first child was born, due to Sam’s service in the Navy.
The couple won a luxury break to the island paradise - 13 years after having to cancel their Maldives honeymoon plans when, just three days after their wedding, Sam was told he’d be leaving on deployment in just 24 hours.
Every year since, the couple has tried to get away for the perfect trip to spend quality time together – but in between moving to six different locations, including 3 homes in the Netherlands, along with the birth of their two children and a surrogacy pregnancy, a real honeymoon has never come to fruition.
Katy spotted the perfect chance with Winged Boots’ Honeymoon Renewal competition and entered for the chance to win the £15,000, 10-night luxury getaway by sharing the story of their struggle for a real honeymoon.
In her entry, Katy shared how their last family holiday to Florida was jokingly framed as their honeymoon, she said: “Whilst we were away in Florida, Sam joked that this trip could be our honeymoon as we still hadn’t celebrated.
“Although we can look back and say that we had a nice time, it wasn’t without its challenges.
“At the time, our daughter hadn't yet been diagnosed with autism and she found the hustle and bustle of the trip very challenging.
“This was after being trapped in our hotel room for the first four days as a hurricane swept through the area - which wasn’t ideal with two children or for a ‘honeymoon’!”
After finding out that she had won, Katy said: “I was just so shocked as I jumped on the call thinking that we were just going to discuss my entry in more detail and I had no idea that I was the winner.
“We’ve not had a night alone together since having our children, never mind a holiday, so I was joking with the team that I’m excited to know what my husband is like again!
“When I got the chance to Facetime Sam to let him know, he was just so excited. It just makes his homecoming this time that even more special and had me reminiscing back to our wedding.”
David Ox, managing director of Winged Boots, said: “After having their dream trip cancelled due to Sam’s service in the Navy and a turbulent family holiday turned honeymoon, they’re deserving of a trip for the two of them after a nearly 14-year wait!
“We can’t wait to see what they get up to in the Maldives, from snorkelling to days out with their very own marine butler, it will be a truly memorable experience.”
To find out more about Katy and Sam’s honeymoon trip, visit wingedboots.co.uk/maldives-honeymoon-competition.
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