Another achievement for GEM Appeal

The GEM Appeal team outside The Oxford on Whitworth Road

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The GEM Appeal has done it again with another astonishing achievement, as they raised thousands of pounds with their annual sponsored walk over the May Bank Holiday.

Karen and Garry, two of the founders of the GEM Appeal, had organised the walk, which began at The Oxford Pub on Whitworth Road, over Syke moor to Watergrove Reservoir, over Wardle moor to Littleborough and finished at the Fisherman Inn at Hollingworth Lake. The walk was well worthwhile as the GEM Appeal were delighted to announce that they had successfully raised £2,953.69. As if this figure wasn’t good enough, The Abbey National Bank have agreed to double the amount to £5907.38!

Garry Whitworth from the GEM appeal said: “It was a perfect day. The sun shone on us all the way and we all have a lovely time.”

He added, “The money that we raised is just brilliant, we’re all really happy with it. It just goes to show that it can be done!”

The GEM Appeal walkers returned to The Oxford later in the day where they settled for a well deserved drink. Actor Paul Oldham ended the night perfectly with an auction and raffle.

The GEM Appeal (Genetics, Enzymes, Metabolism) was launched in September 1994 with an initial charitable donation of £70,000 and an aim to raise £500,000 to fund the building of the extension to house further laboratory and office space which will enable the research and treatment of rare life threatening genetic and metabolic disorders in children to continue and develop further.

A research facility, set up with money raised by Rochdale mum Karen Sunderland-Hoather, via the GEM Appeal, has developed a lifesaving treatment for genetic disorders. The treatment, originally discovered by American doctors, was developed by specialists at the Simon & Michael Hoather Metabolic Unit in Manchester.