The eighth annual Grouse & Grape Luncheon was held on Tuesday 9 October at the historic Spencer House in central London, and attracted over 340 guests who helped raise £31,000 for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
The Grouse & Grape Luncheon is a unique networking event which has developed a loyal following since its inception eight years ago. It is an offshoot of another firmly established event in the City’s social calendar, the Gulls’ Eggs Luncheon, and provides another coveted opportunity to network in one of London’s finest venues while supporting vital research into Parkinson’s.
Guests at the Luncheon were served the traditional fresh grapes, along with a selection of fine wines and cheeses. However, this year, due to the unexpected and unseasonal weather experienced in the UK since spring, grouse moors have seen a difficult season. The committee therefore decided to serve partridge instead, again kindly donated from High Helbeck Estate in Cumbria which has donated grouse in the past.
WillCook, chief executive of the Cure Parkinson's Trust (CPT), commented: “CPT’s involvement with the Grouse & Grape Luncheon continues to be of great benefit to CPT and our search for a cure. In addition to this incredible amount raised, which will be devoted to pioneering research, the Luncheon has also put us into contact with many new friends - key decision-makers and influencers - in the financial and philanthropic communities.
"Together, our ambitious goals are becoming yet more achievable, and more quickly. For this, CPT is hugely grateful to the dedicated and enthusiastic committee and all attendees of the luncheon.”
Two people in the UK every hour are diagnosed with Parkinson’s. 145,000 people in the UK, and up to 10 million worldwide, are currently living with the condition and this figure is set to increase by nearly 20 percent by 2025. CPT funds innovative research around the world which is dedicated to finding new treatments that can slow, stop or reverse Parkinson’s.
For the third year running, the Luncheon was supported by headline sponsor CRUX Asset Management, supported by Standard Life Aberdeen with PAM Insight as its media partners.
The next event in aid of CPT to be held for City professionals will be the Gulls’ Eggs Luncheon which will be held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall on 14 May 2019. For all sponsorship queries please contact Anna MacLeod by email - gulls.eggs@cureparkinsons.org.uk - or by telephone on 0207 487 3892.