Leading restaurants and chefs are collaborating to launch a new charity initiative, “Let’s come together to make a difference” to support the Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata.
The initiative, which is being launched by Boris Johnson MP, Mayor of London on Tuesday 29th September 2015 at St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, London will see a number of popular London restaurants match every £1 donation made by their customers. Diners will be encouraged to support the initiative by agreeing to add £1 to their restaurant bill.
The campaign has been developed by Iqbal Wahhab OBE, the owner of the popular chain of restaurants in London, ‘roast’. A number of other leading restaurants have already agreed to support the initiative including; Café Spice Namaste, Benaras, Cinnamon Club, Quilon at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, as well as Oh Calcutta which is being opened in London by Indian entrepreneur and restauranteur, Anjan Chatterjee.
All money donated will go to the Tata Medical Centre, which was established at the initiative of Mr Ratan Tata and supported by the Tata group and many other generous donors. The not-for-profit Tata Medical Centre specialises in the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of cancer patients in West Bengal, as well as adjoining states and neighbouring countries.
The Centre has already treated more than 50,000 patients and performed over 11,000 operations since it opened in 2011, with 50 per cent of the 167 beds provided for free or subsidised treatment for those in need.
The donations received from this initiative will be used to help expand the hospital and support the centre’s ambition to become one of the leading cancer research institutes in India.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson MP said: “Tata is one of the largest foreign investors in UK industry, employing more than 60,000 people nationwide and acting as a catalyst for economic prosperity not only here in London but across the entire country. I am delighted to support their generosity and humanitarian work and urge London’s restaurant-goers to ‘come together to make a difference’ for this most worthy of causes.”
