A ‘strawberry sparkle’ ladies lunch event at Rochdale Golf Club has raised nearly £4,000 for The Gem Appeal.
The Gem Appeal is a charity based in Rochdale which raises money to fund research into treatments for life threatening genetic and metabolic disorders.
On Wednesday, August 24, 132 guests enjoyed an afternoon of delicious food, great entertainment and one or two glasses of fizz and raised a record amount for the event.
Singer, James Cockerill, provided entertainment throughout the afternoon while actor David Lonsdale, best known for his role as David in Heartbeat and Jason Done, (Merlin and Waterloo Road) were special guests and assisted with the raffle.
In 1994 Gem Appeal founder Karen Johsnon started the charity to extend the Willink Unit at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and to fund research into the disorder that her two sons Simon and Mike were dying from – Hunter Syndrome.
At lunch Karen gave a speech saying that because of research at The Willink Unit, Manchester Children’s Hospital, a diagnosis of a rare genetic disease, such as Hunter Syndrome, does not mean a death sentence as it did for her two sons.
A spokesperson for The Gem Appeal said: “Because of money raised by The Gem Appeal, pioneering research at The Willink Unit, where the laboratory is named after Simon and Mikey, has resulted in enzyme replacement therapy treatments being developed.
“These have been life-changing for many families with children with genetic conditions; reducing symptoms, avoiding further complications, extending life expectancy and giving better quality of life.
“The Medical team at the hospital is striving for more rare genetic diseases to be included in the Newborn Screening program Heel prick test because early diagnosis is crucial to prioritize maximum effective treatments.”
The Gem Appeal’s next fundraising event is a fashion show at Rochdale Golf Club on Monday 3rd October.
Further details of the charity and future events can be found at www.gem-appeal.co.uk/home.