Hospitality industry rallies around Action Against Hunger Nepal effort

Chefs, restaurants and hospitality industry workers, including Gary Usher of Sticky Walnut, are to help support Action Against Hunger's work in Nepal.

Chef patron of Cheshire restaurant Sticky Walnut, Usher spearheaded the humanitarian campaign on social media website Twitter, under the topic hashtag #RestaurantsUniteforNepal, after asking the question "what can we do?" online.

He is to hold a fundraising dinner at Sticky Walnut tonight, with all takings to be donated to the cause, in light of the Nepalese earthquake disaster.

Other fundraising events to come out of the support effort include a BBQ at the Red Lion pub in Barnes, London; 180 Fullers pubs set to take donations from customers at the bar; a fundraising night on 17 May featuring South West-based chefs including Dean Edwards, MasterChef winner Mat Follas, and Sienna's Russell Brown; plus raffles, and £1 per bill donations across a host of other UK restaurants.

Other chefs and businesses to have become involved include Aiden Byrne, MEATLiquor, Parkers Arms, James Durrant at the Plough Inn, and the Cross Keys Pub.

Usher, whose tweet helped to kick off the campaign, has more than 9,000 followers on the site, and previously demonstrated the power of his social media presence via a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise £100,000 for his second restaurant.

Matthew White, director of fundraising and communications at Action Against Hunger, said: "The restaurant community is passionate and incredibly generous, and time and time again comes together to support our work. This time it started as a simple call for support on Twitter.

"Then, as the devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal became clearer, it quickly escalated into over 200 chefs and restaurants committing to raise money over the coming weeks. And more and more continue to join our work."

The actions echo the calls from Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains, who has called on the industry to support the Community Action Nepal charity after his attempt to hold the world's highest dinner party on Mount Everest was halted, firstly by his own health condition which saw him lean on Nepalese Sherpas for assistance, and secondly by the earthquake itself.

Action Against Hunger has already helped survivors in the aftermath of last month's earthquake, which has so far killed a reported 7,200 people and injured thousands more.

This has included sending in emergency experts, and psychological support workers, as well as a cargo plane carrying 11 tonnes of relief supplies, including shelters, high energy food, and a range of water sanitation kits to help alleviate the lack of clean water in Kathmandu.

Children's international humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger has been present in Nepal since 2005, and works across 45 countries worldwide to alleviate chronic insecurity of food, nutrition and clean water.

It regularly works with the restaurant industry to secure fundraising via the sector.

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