Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 I would like to ask for your support.

At 65, you'd think I'd know better. But, anybody who knows me, knows I love my running. I might not be very good at it, but I love it. I can't knit, I can't sew. I can't do fantastic things that other people do. So this is my personal attempt to raise some money for a charity close to my heart.  Please be GEMerous. 

Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Genetics Trust (The Gem Appeal Charity). www.gemappeal.org.uk, was founded by a Rochdale mum,  Karen Johnson in 1994. Her two sons, Simon and Mikey, were diagnosed with Hunter Syndrome, an incurable genetic disease. She began fundraising in a race against time to save her boys. Sadly Simon and Mikey lost their fights for life but awareness and fundraising continued. Money raised has built a Research and Treatment unit at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.  The Gem Appeal charity is run entirely by volunteers, no premises, no salaries, raising money for research and treatment for rare genetic diseases in children. Karen Johnson, our Chairman, was recognised with a Pride of Britain Award in 2016 and the charity has received The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Money raised by our supporters has recently bought a Tecan machine for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. This significant piece of equipment, costing £120,000  is now up and running . The equipment we have bought is helping pioneering research, developing enzyme replacement therapies, or performing routine, but essential jobs, enabling the Specialist medical teams to concentrate on more complex tasks. The Senior Bio-Scientist at the Willink Unit, has told us that it is an exciting time for developments in genetics. We have been part of this journey and we want to continue to be with them every step of the way.  At a recent event,  Karen Johnson, Chairman of The Gem Appeal, gave a heart rending speech, informing everyone how significant their support and donations are, because now, because of research at The Willink Unit, Manchester Children’s Hospital, a diagnosis of a rare genetic disease, such as Hunter Syndrome, which is the condition which Karen's boys, Simon and Mikey suffered with, does not mean a death sentence, as it did for them.

Pioneering research at The Willink Unit, has resulted in enzyme replacement therapy treatments being developed. These have been life-changing for many families with children with genetic conditions; reducing symptoms, avoiding further complications, extending life expectancy and giving better quality of life. 

If only Simon and Mikey were still here now.

The Medical team at the hospital is optimistic about the future and is striving for more rare genetic diseases to be included in the Newborn Screening programme Heel prick test. There is still a long way to go to find cures for these genetic disorders, but The Gem Appeal charity will do all it can to help get there.

Actress and Loose Women Presenter Denise Welch is Patron of The Gem Appeal and hosted her 20th annual Charity Ball for us on 21st November at The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester. Karen Johnson gave a speech explaining about the tecan machine and our previous purchase, the tandem mass spectrometer and informed us that The Willink Unit would welcome the opportunity to develop new biomarker tests using this new equipment for precision medicine, to personalise treatment for patients with rare inherited metabolic diseases.

Our mission statement is Funding research, finding cures, so we must do this.. We are planning lots of events to help us reach this goal.  I want to do my bit too.

We are a small charity.  Any support you give will be greatly appreciated.  This would make a big difference.

Thank you.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.