Strawberry Sparkle 2020 raises hundreds for GEM Appeal

Date published: 29 August 2020

The ever-popular Strawberry Sparkle lunch has raised over £500 for the GEM Appeal charity this year, after being held virtually.

Usually taking place at Nutters Restaurant in Norden each summer, scores of ladies in posh frocks and fascinators gather for an afternoon of fundraising, great food and entertainment.

Despite the pandemic, GEM Appeal committee members were not deterred and decided to host a virtual luncheon to kickstart vital fundraising.

Invitations were sent out, containing the recipe for a special Strawberry Sparkle dessert (created by Andrew Nutter) and guests were challenged to create the dessert and present online to be judged by the famous chef, and Denise Welch, a patron of the GEM Appeal.

The event was opened by the charity’s founder, Karen Johnson, and entertainment provided by vocalist Anthony Craig.

The GEM Appeal raises money to fund research and find cures for genetic diseases, and was founded in 1994 by Karen, of Rochdale, whose sons, Simon and Mikey, were born with Hunter Syndrome. Tragically, both boys lost their lives to the incurable disease at the age of 12, but their names live on in the Willink Unit laboratory at Manchester Children’s Hospital.

GEM Appeal ambassador, David Oulton, who also has Hunter Syndrome, shared a video showing his regular routine of enzyme replacement therapy treatment to show how he has benefiitted from money raised by the charity. The video was a poignant reminder of how important raising money for research and treatment of rare genetic diseases is.

Wendy Mills, charity fundraiser for the GEM Appeal, thanked everyone for their involvement in making Strawberry Sparkle 2020 go ahead, and those who have donated.

Donations can still be made via JustGiving at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/virtualsparkle2020

or via the GEM Appeal website: www.gemappeal.org.uk