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Gordon Ramsay's Festive Fundraiser Returns to Edinburgh

Gordon Ramsay Restaurant Edinburgh venues have welcomed the return of their ‘GReat Donate’ festive fundraiser, to raise money for specialist charity Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland.

The fundraiser launched during the 2022 festive season, coinciding with the launch of Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger restaurant in the St James Quarter. They raised an incredible £15,642 as a result which Gordon and Tana Ramsay then generously matched to give the charity an extra special funds boost.  

This year, a £1 voluntary donation will be added to diner’s bills at the St Andrew Square restaurant and St James Quarter restaurant until the end of December 2023.

The funds raised will help SBH Scotland provide vital support to over 4,000 children, young people and adults across Scotland who are affected by the lifelong, complex conditions of spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

Gordon Ramsay became SBH Scotland’s first ever Honorary Patron back in 2003 when he met the organisation’s Chairperson, Dr Margo Whiteford CBE, at the Great North Run. For 20 years, he has continued to support SBH Scotland through charitable donations and appearances.

A spokesperson from Gordon Ramsay’s Restaurants said:

“SBH Scotland are a fantastic charity which makes a real difference to the lives of so many families across Scotland who are affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

“We’re delighted to bring back our Festive Fundraiser to our Bread Street Kitchen & Bar and Street Burger restaurants in Edinburgh and we hope our diners will be happy to make a small gesture this Christmas, that’ll have a big impact on families across Scotland.

Opening date for Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger revealed

The much-anticipated launch of Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger restaurant in Edinburgh is due to take place on 1 December but the capital’s eager foodies can grab a sneak-peak and bite to eat when the doors open early on the 28^th November for a charity fundraising day.

The launch day will allow guests to enjoy Scotland’s first Street Burger restaurant with all proceeds going to the restaurant’s charity partner, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland. SBH Scotland Honorary Patron, Gordon Ramsay OBE, has also pledged to match all the proceeds from the day to ensure the charity get an extra special festive funds boost.

In a bid to further bolster the charity partnership, from the 29^th until the end of December, a £1 voluntary donation will be added to diners’ bills at Street Burger as well as the St Andrew Square restaurant, Bread Street Kitchen and Bar.

The funds raised will help SBH Scotland provide vital support to over 4,000 children, young people and adults across Scotland who are affected by the lifelong, complex conditions of spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

A spokesperson from Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants said: “We have been working on the launch of Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger for a long time and we are very much looking forward to opening the doors to our first burger restaurant in Scotland.

“This special launch day gives us the opportunity to showcase our food whilst giving back to SBH Scotland and supporting all the incredible work the charity does to help families in Scotland.”

Gordon Ramsay became SBH Scotland’s first ever Honorary Patron back in 2003 when he met the organisation’s Chairperson, Dr Margo Whiteford CBE, at the Great North Run. For nearly 20 years, Gordon and his wife Tana, have continued to support SBH Scotland through charitable donations and appearances.

Dr Margo Whiteford CBE, Chairperson of SBH Scotland, said: “Gordon Ramsay has been a great friend of SBH Scotland for nearly two decades and we remain thankful to him and his restaurant teams for such continued generosity.

“Funds raised at this time of year are crucial for the dedicated support we can provide now and for the next 12 months. As well as our personal home and hospital support, health check clinics, counselling service and groups we’ve also just extended our financial support service for families affected by the cost of living crisis. We heavily rely on fundraising to reach our annual targets and we are grateful for every pound donated.

“This festive season, we hope all diners visiting Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger will be happy to know that every meal they have will help us continue supporting thousands of families at a time when they need it the most.”

Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Street Burger launch festive fundraiser for SBH Scotland

Gordon Ramsay’s Edinburgh venues are set to launch the GReat Donate, a festive fundraiser, to raise money for specialist charity, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland. A £1 voluntary donation will be added to diners bills at the St Andrew Square restaurant and the soon to open St James restaurant throughout the months of November and December 2022.

The funds raised will help SBH Scotland provide vital support to over 4,000 children, young people and adults across Scotland who are affected by the lifelong, complex conditions of spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

Gordon Ramsay became SBH Scotland’s first ever Honorary Patron back in 2003 when he met the organisation’s Chairperson, Dr Margo Whiteford CBE, at the Great North Run. For nearly 20 years, he has continued to support SBH Scotland through charitable donations and appearances.

A spokesperson from Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants said: “SBH Scotland are a fantastic charity which makes a real difference to the lives of so many families across Scotland who are affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

“We understand how hard charity fundraising has been hit over the last two years and while we’ve been inspired by the charity’s tenacity during this time, we felt it important to do what we can to ensure they can continue to provide their life-changing services.

“The option to add a voluntary £1 donation onto your bill is a small gesture diners at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Street Burger restaurants can make, that’ll have a big impact.”

Dr Margo Whiteford CBE, Chairperson of SBH Scotland, said: “As our only Honorary Patron, Gordon has been a great friend of our charity for nearly two decades and we couldn’t be more thankful for his continued generosity.

“Over the years, he has taken time out from his busy schedule to host gala dinners, launch appeals including the campaign to build our Family Support Centre, and personally meet with the families we support.

“We heavily rely on fundraising activity to ensure we can continue to deliver many of our vital services including support groups and 1-2-1 support. The last two years have been difficult for everyone, but particularly so for those already in need and SBH Scotland, like many charities, have experienced a devastating loss of funds.

“That’s why this festive season, we hope any diners visiting Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen or Street Burger will be happy to know that every £1 raised will go a long way to helping us continue to support thousands of families at the time when they need us the most.”

CBE for SBH Scotland Chair, Dr Margo Whiteford

Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland are delighted to announce that their Chairperson, Dr Margo Whiteford, has been awarded the title of CBE (Commander of the British Empire) as part of the 2017 New Year’s Honours List for her services to charity and health.

Dr Whiteford was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth and is paralysed from the waist down. Despite spending most of her life in a wheelchair, she has dedicated her time to charitable causes, taking particular interest in organisations that support lifelong conditions.

A longstanding member, and now chairperson, of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland) Dr Whiteford is also a board member of the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus and was elected president of the organisation in 2013. She is also chair of a global expert panel which looks to improve treatments for people with spina bifida on a worldwide scale, and she works closely with the Global Summit for Food Fortification in Tanzania.

Dr Whiteford dedicates her efforts to raising awareness of the complex conditions. In 2002 she took part in the Great North Run, where she not only completed the 13-mile event in her wheelchair, but managed to convince fellow competitor, Gordon Ramsay OBE to become an honorary patron of SBH Scotland. Since taking up the role in 2005, the TV chef has raised thousands of pounds for the organisation. In 2009 Dr Whiteford added to her long list of fund raising achievements when she completed the London Marathon, raising £15,000 in the process. She has also completed the Great Scottish Run on four separate occasions and most recently has zip wired across the River Clyde.

Chief executive of SBH Scotland Andrew H D Wynd MBE said, “I would like to offer my congratulations to Dr Whiteford whose support over the past 30 years has been indispensable to SBH Scotland. She is an incredible woman whose achievements demonstrate that physical disability does not have to be a barrier to success.

“As a voluntary member of organisations like ours, Dr Whiteford utilises her spare time to attend meetings and seminars across the world. Her dedication to improving the lives of those affected by these complex conditions is irrefutable and she is truly an inspiration to all of us.

He continues “Her parents were part of the original group that founded SBH Scotland back in 1965 with the aim of providing support to those affected by the condition. It is incredible that just 50 years later we are seeing their daughter being recognised for her own contributions to this cause. She is a tireless campaigner and the team at SBH Scotland could not be happier for her latest achievement.”

In her professional career, Dr Whiteford continues to break stereotypes, proving that being in a wheelchair does not preclude her from working in challenging environments. Originally graduating from the University of Dundee with a BSc in Pharmacology, she went on become a qualified medical practitioner. Today, she works as a consultant clinical geneticist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, where she has diagnosed, and supported hundreds of children and adults who are affected by genetic conditions.

The final word comes from Dr Margo Whiteford herself,

"I'm just glad that my parents are able to witness this after the gloomy picture that they were given about my future when I was born. To all parents of children with spina bifida never give up dreaming about what might be achieved."