Virtual GEM Appeal festivities prove a real Christmas Cracker Date published: 30 December 2020
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
BIG-hearted council staff are running, walking or dancing their way through December to raise vital funds for local families suffering domestic abuse. Twelve staff members at Inverclyde s Educational Psychology Service are each completing a marathon this month in aid of Inverclyde Women s Aid. They are taking on the 26.2 mile challenge in their own way, with the collective mileage resulting in them virtually reaching John o Groats. The team set out to initially raise £500, but are already sitting at double their target. Laurence Reilly, an acting principal psychologist, said: We know that this year is difficult for many, so wanted to do something as a team to help.