Novel recipe book raises £25,000 for Tearfund

A Christian couple have donated more than £25,000 to Tearfund thanks to sales of their best-selling cookbook featuring recipes from around the world.

The couple, who have supported Tearfund for over 25 years, have sold more than 4,200 of "Recipes for Disaster…Relief and Development", with copies going to the USA, Europe and as far away as the Falkland Islands.

“This is an amazing achievement,” says Matthew Frost, Tearfund Chief Executive. “The Recipes for Disaster book was a very clever idea and its success will go to help many people in the poorest countries. Tearfund – and the voluntary sector as a whole – would be a duller place without Gordon and Brenda’s talent and committed support.”

The book was launched in East Grinstead in July 2006 and proved an immediate hit, selling enough copies in the first three months to cover all production costs and still have enough left over to make a £1,000 donation.

By the following October, the Wilkinsons had sold 3,000 copies and donated £17,000.

Mr Wilkinson said: "It was a huge step of faith to print 5,000 copies of the book and aim to raise £25,000 after costs, so meeting the challenge and exceeding this target in four years is fantastic.”

Mrs Wilkinson explained the idea behind the title of the cookbook.

“I think the title of the book had a lot to do with its success," she said.

"After spending two weeks in Honduras on a Tearfund Study Tour, eating mostly rice and beans, we came up with the idea of producing a collection of recipes from countries where Tearfund works - a recipe book with a difference, one that gives information about the country, its needs and how Tearfund is bringing hope to some of the world’s poorest people.

"So, it was the two things of thinking about recipes and raising money for disaster relief and development that led us to this catchy title," she said.

There are still a few hundred copies of the recipe books for sale, priced £7 or three for £10, including postage and packaging.

Mr Wilkinson said: “The books make a great gift … there’s even an alternative Christmas menu which you can find on our website, www.recipesfordisaster.org.

"Most of the recipes are delicious - we know because we’ve tried nearly all of them.

"However, one or two are quite bland, but that’s understandable because in countries where food is limited poor people have no options.

"Not only can people try recipes such as Cambodian sticky rice with mango or Peruvian prawn chowder, but there’s a real opportunity for them to learn about these countries and be inspired by some of the amazing work that Tearfund’s partners are doing.”