AN ITALIAN restaurant is aiming for a full house to help Keighley mother-of-three Gemma Wilkinson battle cancer.
Amici Ristorante on East Parade is holding a fundraising night to support Gemma as she faces a second bout of treatment in coming weeks.
There will be a tombola, raffle and live music for diners who take up the offer of £10 for a full meal on April 28.
Proceeds will help pay the costs of travel and accommodation for Gemma, of Long Lee, as she undergoes cancer treatment in Birmingham and Leeds.
The meal is the brainchild of Amici manager Antonio Familio, who knows Gemma’s husband Paul, with support from owner Nick Risidi.
Antonio has chosen a Tuesday, when the restaurant is normally closed, to offer a choice of popular Amici dishes.
He said: “We’ll have a couple of choices of starter, mains and desserts, traditional Italian dishes that are the most popular in the restaurant, including pizzas and pasta.
“We are hoping to fill the place completely with about 50 people. All the proceeds will go straight to Gemma. Everything will be done with cash so the money doesn’t have to go through the bank.
“Nick is giving me the restaurant for the night. The live act is playing for free, the staff are working for free and all the suppliers are giving food for free.”
There will be one sitting on April 28, at around 6.30pm. Call 01535 610699 to book places.
Antonio, originally from Italy, has lived in Keighley for about 20 years and worked at Amici for about 11, the past nine as manager.
Gemma and husband Paul successfully raised thousands of pounds last year to make essential adaptations to their Long Lee home after she lost a leg to the disease.
Gemma, who has three children, Luca, 16, Georgia, eight, and Jack, seven, had to have her left leg amputated after contracting osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
The first fundraising was organised by local charity Lifecare UK to provide special facilities at Gemma’s home, such as a wet room and accessibility improvements.
Last month Gemma was forced to go public again with another plea for cash, when she discovered she needed several months of treatment in Birmingham and Leeds.
The fundraising, which includes a gofundme.com page, skydive, family fun day and dance event, aims to take pressure off her husband Paul, 39.
Gemma said: “The travel and accommodation costs are going to leave us struggling immensely - it costs £100 for each trip and stay in Birmingham for one night.”
In order to donate to the appeal, visit gofundme.com and type Gemma Wilkinson into the search box.
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