Thirty of the brewery’s pubs across Cornwall, as well as Brewery staff themselves, took part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday (September 30).
Events included a marathon four-hour row at the William IV in Truro; a bread making demonstration at the Pedn-Olva Hotel in St Ives and a big breakfast event at the Ship Inn, Pentewan. There were also numerous book sales, live music, raffles and the ubiquitous cake and coffee.
Several pubs raised more than £500, including the Central Inn, Newquay, which raised £805.57, the William IV, Truro with £784, the Norway Inn, Perranarworthal, which raised £700, the Ship Inn, Pentewan, with £700, the Great Western Hotel, Newquay raised £645.83, the Atlantic Hotel, St Mary’s with £600 and St Austell Brewery’s finance team raised £585.85.
The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, launched in 1990, has grown to become Macmillan’s largest fundraising event, generating millions to fund vital cancer services. The charity is hoping to raise more than £50,000 across Cornwall from the coffee morning events, and £9 million nationally.
James Staughton, Managing Director of St Austell Brewery, said: “We are over the moon to have raised such a phenomenal amount for Macmillan Cancer Support. We’d hoped to raise £5,000, but we’ve managed to far exceed that target just goes to show that community spirit is alive and well in Cornwall.
“The local community is at the heart of everything we do and it’s important we give something back as a thank you for all the support we receive.
“As a Cornish company we are dedicated to helping Cornish people, which is why we’re proud and excited to be supporting Macmillan Cancer Care in Cornwall.”
The St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust has raised a massive £280,000 since it was started in 2003, with donations going to well-known charities, local good causes and individuals who need help. The Trust is on target to the reach the £300,000 mark by Christmas.
In the past weeks, the Brewery has raised around £18,000 for charity – with more than £8,000 coming from the Macmillan Coffee Morning, £2,000 from a zumba party in aid of the Precious Lives Appeal, £2,000 from a Fishermen’s Friends concert and almost £2,000 from the Brewery’s own 160th anniversary celebrations.
Money is raised by individual pubs and employees through events such as darts tournaments, sponsored walks and quizzes, plus the annual Celtic Beer Festival in November.
Emma Wright, Cornwall Fundraising Manager for Macmillan, said: “We are delighted to have had the support of St Austell Brewery and its pubs throughout Cornwall. The amount raised is staggering and reflects a great deal of hard work and commitment from all involved.
“The money raised will make a real difference to people in Cornwall living with cancer, and has provided us with a chance to build a partnership with St Austell Brewery, which we hope will develop further.
“We would also like to thank Jo Bond for all her work on achieving such a magnificent total and Kerry Tanner for her assistance.”
Among the services Macmillan supports in Cornwall are a clinical nurse specialist in chemotherapy, a clinical nurse specialist in skin cancer and a Cornwall libraries project; the first of its kind in the UK.
Macmillan Cancer Support also gave more than £70,000 in grants to people living with cancer in Cornwall last year, to pay for items such as increased heating bills, wigs and transport to and from appointments.
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