Nearly £4,000 was raised by just 100 people last night at Bristol’s Golden Ticket Gala to fund life-changing equipment for Ugandan gold miners.
The event heard from Fairtrade gold pioneer Greg Valerio MBE, pictured, who spoke passionately about how small-scale gold mining is one of the most dangerous and low-paid industries in the world and involves 160m people. 
The use of mercury in the extraction process is hugely damaging to human health and the environment. But a new machine, pictured, enables gold miners to extract four times the amount of gold without using mercury – and the generosity of those attending the gala dinner will help gold miners buy this equipment.
The gala dinner was organised by Go Green Bristol, Bristol Fairtrade and Bristol Green Capital Partnership, and sponsored by the Co-operative and Bristol jewellers Diana Porter, as part of Bristol’s Healthy City Week. 
The event included one lucky guest winning the ‘golden ticket’ that had been hidden inside a wrapper of Divine chocolate – Willy Wonka style. The ticket can be exchanged for a Fairtrade gold necklace from Liz Earle’s collection.
Diana Porter told the event that in future all her 9ct and 18ct gold pieces will be made using Fairtrade gold as standard as her commitment to ethical jewellery.
More than 150 events aimed at inspiring people to achieve healthier lifestyles have taken place during Healthy City Week to help make Bristol more sustainable.
