Pic: Parkholme Supper Club

The woman behind an innovative Hackney supper club has been nominated for a national award by fund raising website JustGiving  after raising nearly £30,000 for a medical care charity.

Alicia Weston has been shortlisted as the Most Creative Fundraiser of the year by JustGiving Awards 2013. Weston captured their attention due to her innovative way of raising money over the past two and a half years.

The Dalston based foodie combined her love of cooking and passion for charity to open up Parkholme Supper Club in 2010. So far she has raised an astonishing £27,500 for medical care charity Médecins Sans Frontières.

Weston says: “It’s a real honour to be shortlisted. My JustGiving page has been invaluable in both taking and recording the donations from the 900-odd members of the public that have eaten at the supper club. I hope that being selected for the shortlist will draw attention to the valued work that Médecins Sans Frontières do and inspire others to think about alternative ways raising money for charity.”

Every other week Weston opens the doors of her home on Parkholme Road, to offer 14 people an evening of mouth-watering meals inspired by menu’s from across the globe.

The evening costs £45 a head with £35 going directly towards the charity. The extra £10 goes towards an array of delicious ingredients. Weston also offers mentoring lessons for those eager to hone their own cookery skills.

Médecins Sans Frontiéres is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid in more than 60 countries to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters.

Winners from 11 different categories will be announced at a special awards ceremony that will take place at The Troxy in Commercial Road, Stepney on April 11.

Anne-Marie Huby, managing director at JustGiving, said: “Each year we are overwhelmed by the inspiring fundraising stories we hear, and the truly incredible lengths to which people will go for the causes they care about.”

The JustGiving Awards recognise outstanding individuals and groups that combined, raised nearly £200 million for a range of charities.