Crowdfunding campaign keeps business afloat during illness
FRIENDS of a popular Abersoch chef forced to temporarily close his restaurant after he was hospitalised with pneumonia started a crowdfunding appeal that has gone viral. Si Toft, who owns the highly rated The Dining Room restaurant in the Gwynedd resort, was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd for treatment after developing pneumonia following a serious chest infection. It means the family have been forced to close the small eating place for at least 10 days during the key summer season as he battles to recover. After news spread about his illness friends, customers and others in the restaurant sector rallied around and a Just Giving fundraising page was set up on Thursday morning. The aim was to raise £1,000 for the family but the fund has raised an incredible £7,400 - a n d received th e backing of Observer food critic and TV personality Jay Rayner.
Karen White, from Chester, who started the appeal, said: “When myself and Gary Usher saw that Si was ill we really felt for him because this is a seasonal industry and he was having to close.
“He is a lovely bloke with a young family who works so hard and he deserves a break.
“We decided to set up a page which went live on Thursday, news spread on Twitter and now there is more than £7,000 raised, it is incredible.
“This will now mean he does not have to rush back to work and can take time to recover properly.”
Si’s wife Jo said on Facebook: “The last few weeks have been tough on us as a family with Si unwell at such a crucial time.
“It’s actually a relief that he’s now in hospital and getting the care he needs but being forced to close during the busiest time of the year is heartbreakingly frustrating.
“Anyone with their own business knows taking time off is never easy, it’s not as simple as calling in sick; for us if Si isn’t able to work then we simply can’t open so he puts a lot of pressure on himself to keep going no matter what.
“Thanks to the kindness you’ve all shown us that pressure has now eased.
“I want to say thank you to Gary Usher and Karen Hunter White and to every person who has helped us out with their kindness and support. What’s happened in the last 24 hours is overwhelming.
“Neither Si nor I like fuss or attention so we were naturally embarrassed to find this page set up for us, but we’ve also been incredibly touched by the generosity shown by not only our friends and regular guests but also by those in the industry and many people we don’t even know.
“What you’ve all done is amazing and more than enough to allow us to pay staff, suppliers, rent etc while Si takes the time he needs to recover.”
Food critic Jay Rayner tweeted: “A rather lovely crowdfunding campaign to help a chef who’s ill in hospital cover costs and keep his restaurant going.”
In response Si tweeted from his hospital bed: “Ok. So that’s Jay Rayner then. Obviously. Completely normal Friday morning for us...”