GEM Appeal sponsored walk raises funds for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Genetics Trust

Twelve enthusiastic supporters took part in a sponsored 10k walk for the GEM Appeal charity on 30 May.

The charity’s first face-to-face fundraiser of 2021, the walkers set off from Bamford Bowling Club to follow a scenic circular route through local countryside as part of ‘Karen's 10k Sponsored Walk’.

A refuelling station was set up en route with energy boosting refreshments donated by Asda Rochdale, before the walk finished back at the bowling club where sandwiches and a well-earned drink were enjoyed.

GEM Appeal trustee, Wendy Mills said: “Local people were very ‘gemerous’ with donations into the bucket collections and additional sponsor money made a final total of £806.25!

“It is great to be back doing what we love, and we are eternally grateful for all the continuing support we receive.

“We want to raise as much money as we can for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Genetics Trust.”

The GEM Appeal (‘Genetics. Enzymes. Metabolics.’) was founded in 1994 by Rochdale mum Karen Johnson whose sons, Simon and Mikey, were born with Hunter Syndrome – a rare inherited disorder caused by missing or malfunctioning enzymes.

There was no cure and no treatment available for the boys at the time, and any research being done was underfunded and slow.

Devastated by the news but unwilling to go down without a fight, Karen started fundraising to raise money to hopefully extend the Willink Laboratory at The Pendlebury Children’s Hospital in Manchester to fund the research and find a treatment that her boys, and other children like them, so desperately needed.

Tragically, both boys lost their lives to the incurable disease at the age of 12, but the GEM Appeal continued to grow from strength to strength in their memory.

 

 

Run entirely by volunteers, the GEM Appeal has now raised over £3 million towards funding research into, and finding cures for, genetic diseases.

So far, the money raised has built a research and treatment unit for The Willink Unit as well as purchasing much-needed medical equipment, to help research, diagnose and treat children and young people with rare genetic and metabolic disorders which were previously incurable.

Because of the money raised by the GEM Appeal, children are living longer healthier lives and the future is now more positive for those diagnosed.

Wendy continued: “We have more events planned for 2021 and these will be put on our website throughout the year.

“Every penny raised goes towards research and treatment. There is no government funding or National Lottery help, so fundraising is the only means of eradicating these terrible disorders that devastated so many lives. But with every event and every donation, we are getting closer to achieving our goal to find cures and actively make a difference.

“If anyone can offer any support, we would love to hear from you.”

• www.gem-appeal.co.uk