Guernsey cheese raises £2,500 for children's charity

Ernie's mum Clare Backlund-Leale, designer Joe Smith and Guernsey Dairy's Dave Domaille and Andrew Tabel. Credit: Ernie's Angels

A limited edition Guernsey cheese has proved a tasty treat for islanders, raising more than £2,500 since going on sale in December.

Know as Ernie's (im)mature cheese, all of the money raised has gone towards island children's charity Ernie's Angels.

The charity was set up last year in memory of Ernie Backlund-Leale, just three months after he lost his battle with Leukemia aged 11.

The local good cause provides financial support to families with terminally ill children by helping with respite care costs and funeral expenses.

Around 3,000 packs of cheese were produced, which then sold out by the end of February.

The achievement has been helped by the community coming together, with Guernsey Dairy donating 100% of its operating margin to the charity and staff volunteering to pack and label the cheese.

Ernie was a frequent visitor to the dairy and had a fondness for Guernsey cheese, helping to make a batch during one of his visits.

General Manager of the Guernsey Dairy, Andrew Tabel remembers Ernie fondly.