Actress Alison Steadman tucks in to brunch to support Surrey charity for children with muscle-wasting disorder
Harrison's Fund raises money for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Last updated 6th Jun 2021
An appeal is out to cook your favourite breakfast this month - while raising funds for a Surrey-based charity at the same time.
Harrison's Fund raises money for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - a muscle-wasting genetic disorder affecting children, for which there is no cure.
Its latest campaign, Harrison's Brunch, runs throughout June.
Actress Alison Steadman is lending her support to it - saying her brunch of choice is bagels and bucks fizz:
"My favourite brunch is smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, lemon, pickled gherkins, pickled herring with a selection of olives and sundried tomatoes. All accompanied by a glass of Buck's Fizz.
"This was our regular Sunday brunch when my two sons were children and teenagers, and it brings back happy memories of us all together sharing. We still meet up occasionally and share this brunch and there is always a discussion about the best bagels and where to buy them!"
As part of the campaign the charity also ran a survey to find out what the nation's favourite brunch is with a 'Full English Breakfast' coming out on top with 39% of the votes, followed by 'Eggs Benedict/Florentine' second with 21% and 'Pancakes and waffles' third with 12%.
Harrison's Fund is named after the 14-year-old Harrison Smith from Surrey who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare genetic condition which causes all muscles in the body to waste away.
The charity's goal is to raise money for researchers, who are working to find a cure for Duchenne.
Harrison's Fund is currently funding three research projects in the US and the UK.
The charity is working with Sutura Therapeutics which is creating pioneering technologies to improve the delivery and efficiency of Duchenne treatments and ensure that the drugs are getting into the muscles in the body as effectively as they should.
Laura Morgan, events and fundraising manager at Harrison's Fund said:
"Now that we are allowed to meet up (in line with the Government's current guidelines) it is the perfect time to get together with your friends and family and host a brunch - if this past year or so has taught us anything it's the importance of spending time with those you love.
"Duchenne is a cruel, relentless and fatal condition that affects 2,500 children in the UK and thousands more across the world. So as you get flipping those pancakes and crunching that granola, know that you'll be giving hope to parents who are watching their child lose the use of their muscles and deteriorate before their very eyes. The more people, like Alison, who join in and support us, the more families we can give hope to and defeat this disease once and for all."
The charity has put together a free fundraising kit, including bunting, posters, fundraising tips and celebrity chef recipes to inspire, including the charity's own ambassador, 'This Morning' TV Chef Theo Michaels, who has created a special Harrison's Brunch meal plan, a Kedgeree dish, in his recently launched FiveDinners Meal subscription service.
Everyone who takes part and hosts a brunch will automatically be entered into a competition to win a year's subscription to Theo's Five Dinners Meal Planner.
To join in and get brunching please visit: www.harrisonsfund.com