Virtual GEM Appeal festivities prove a real Christmas Cracker

GEM Appeal committee members Katie Hoather (pictured) and Kat Watson eagerly volunteered to organise a festive online event

This year’s virtual Christmas Cracker event from the GEM Appeal has raised over £400 for the charity.

Following on from the successful virtual Strawberry Sparkle in August, committee members Katie Hoather and Kat Watson eagerly volunteered to organise a festive online event to raise money for research and treatment for children with genetic diseases.

The GEM Appeal charity was founded in 1994 after founder Karen Johnson’s sons, Simon and Mikey, were diagnosed with Hunter Syndrome. 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, of which The GEM Appeal (‘Genetics. Enzymes. Metabolics.’) fundraises for to fund research and find cures for genetic diseases.

Hosted via Zoom, this year’s event featured Christmas music, appearances from Pantoland, Christmas recipes from Browns Cakes, a festive quiz and lots of Christmas cheer with a surprise appearance from special guests - actors Tim Healy, Eric Potts, David Lonsdale, Nick Newbould and Colin Meredith.

All the hard work came together in an online extravaganza including songs performed by Beki Ann Elcock and a transmission from the North Pole from Santa Claus.

GEM Appeal trustee Wendy Mills said: “We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the event. Many thanks to all our supporters for their ‘GEMerosity’ and we wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Here’s to more fundraising in 2021.”

Donations are still welcome via JustGiving:

• www.justgiving.com/fundraising/virtualchristmascracker