Celebrate with the WMN and raise £1m

By emcgillie eleanor mcgillie deputy news editor

CELEBRITY chefs from across the region have teamed up with the Western Morning News to encourage readers to host their own dinner parties to help us raise more than £1 million for community groups across the region, writes the WMN's Eleanor McGillie.

Next year, we celebrate our 150th anniversary and as part of those celebrations we aim to raise £1 million to secure match funding from the Government.

The Western Morning News 150th Anniversary Challenge Fund has been set up, in corporation with Devon and Cornwall Community Foundation charities, and this is a truly unique opportunity for the whole region to work with us for the benefit of the community.

Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines of Gidleigh Park and Abode, Mitch Tonks of the Seahorse, Jason Hornbuckle of Lewtrenchard Manor, Paul Wadham of Hotel Tresanton and Neil Haydock from Fifteen in Cornwall, have supplied their favourite menus and recipes to inspire readers to hold their own dinner parties on behalf of the WMN 150th Anniversary Challenge Fund.

Using the Dinner4Good website, readers can mail out invites to guests and receive donations direct to the appeal online, making the whole process easy. All donations made will be Gift Aided and doubled by the Community Foundations, making every £10 donated worth almost £25 to local people in need.

Anyone holding a Dinner4Good party will also be entered into a prize draw to win a masterclass with the top chefs or a chance to dine at one of the restaurants.

Editor Alan Qualtrough said: "The Western Morning News has a long tradition of championing our communities and helping those who cannot help themselves.

"Next year, the Western Morning News will be 150 years old and we are establishing the WMN 150th Anniversary Challenge Fund to continue this tradition for years to come. We hope you will help us to help our communities."

Martha Wilkinson, of Devon Community Foundation, said: "It's fantastic that the region's celebrity chefs are getting behind this as a fun and easy way to support the WMN 150th Anniversary Challenge Fund and ensure support for vulnerable older people in our local communities.

"We hope that rather than taking wine or flowers, dinner party guests will make a donation online instead. We also hope budding chefs across the region will be inspired to try out the menus – maybe even setting up a Come Dine With Me style cook-off with a whole week of dinner parties."