VWA trainer joins TV chefs for Alzheimer’s cooking appeal

VWA trainer and Leeds Metropolitan University food expert, Gill Hooper, is urging aspiring chefs to host a Cook for a Cure dinner party to boost funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity. The new initiative has also won support from some of the UK’s top TV chefs.

Gill’s recipes are listed alongside those provided by celebrity chefs who have backed Cook for a Cure, including Rick Stein, Phil Vickery and Mary Berry, to encourage everyone to indulge in some culinary action. Food lovers can give the recipes a whirl or cook their own favourite dishes, and charge their dinner party guests for the privilege, to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Gill Hooper, a lecturer in nutrition at Leeds Metropolitan University, explained her motivation for supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK:
“Cook for a Cure is a great way to do some fundraising and help defeat dementia without having to run a marathon or climb a mountain. Nearly everyone seems to know someone affected by this devastating condition but research to find new treatments is desperately underfunded.

“I’ve always had a huge passion for food and its health benefits and I love to cook. So, I’ve been delighted to provide some of my recipes for the Cook for a Cure dinner party pack. I’m also preparing a regular recipe of the month for Alzheimer’s Research UK, which is available online, to make the most of seasonal produce. My husband is a dementia research scientist so this is a subject very close to my heart.

“I recently arranged a Cook for a Cure dinner party and made one of my favourite puds – chocolate mousse cake served with blueberries. I asked my guests to make a donation for the meal and raised £150 for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Everyone enjoyed the evening and thought it was fantastic to have a dinner party with a focus.”

Miranda Mays, Community Fundraising Manager for Alzheimer’s Research UK, added:
“Gill’s help with this campaign is invaluable as increasing evidence suggests a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of developing dementia. Every £20 raised through Cook for a Cure dinner parties will pay for one hour of pioneering dementia research, bringing us closer to finding ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure dementia.

“There are few things as enjoyable as eating good food with family and friends and a dinner party is a good excuse to get people together. Whether it’s a small gathering or a bigger get together with work colleagues or a community group, a Cook for a Cure dinner party is a fun and easy way to raise money to help defeat dementia.

“Over 7,500 people in Leeds live with the daily reality of dementia but funding for research lags far behind other serious diseases. We rely entirely on our wonderful supporters to fund our world-class dementia research.”

A free Cook for a Cure fundraising pack is available with tasty tips, dinner themed ideas and celebrity recipes to get people started. To request a fundraising pack contact the fundraising team at Alzheimer’s Research UK on 01223 843899 or email cookforacure@alzheimersresearchuk.org.

More information and Gill’s seasonal recipes of the month are available online at

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