GEM Appeal Ball

Date published: 30 June 2004

Stars of Stage and Screen once again supported Karen Hoather at the GEM Appeal Annual Summer Ball. They were joined by over 300 revellers at Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday 26th June 2004.

This was the charities 9th Annual Ball in Rochdale and once again proved to be an evening of good food, good company and great entertainment. The various raffles and auction hosted by Granada’s Paul Crone helped to raise yet more needed funds for the charity.

The research facility, set up with money raised by Rochdale mum Karen 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. Sadly it came too late to save Karen's sons. Karen is hopeful that this treatment will stop genetic disorders developing in the young and will allow these children to lead more or less normal lives. Karen said, "It is wonderful news because I now know other children will not suffer and die like Simon and Michael. This is a dream come true and I did not think it would happen for an awfully long time".

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. This enables the research and treatment of rare life threatening genetic and metabolic disorders in children to continue and develop further.

The Trustees of the GEM Appeal were found from varying walks of life, mainly parents of children suffering from genetic disorders and health professionals working in the field of genetics and the fund raising began in earnest!

Over 2,000 children currently attend the Willink Unit and require very specialised care and attention from the staff working there.

The future of treatment of Genetic and Metabolic disorders depends on the research being carried out now and is vital for the future treatment and cure of these life-threatening disorders, which so cruelly devastate so many lives.

www.gemappeal.org.uk