Pub staff raise £680k for cancer charity in just one month

By Emily Hawkins

- Last updated on GMT

Half a million: Pubco Greene King raised a staggering amount for Macmillan Cancer Support last month
Half a million: Pubco Greene King raised a staggering amount for Macmillan Cancer Support last month

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Staff at Greene King pubs have raised well over half-a-million pounds for a cancer charity in a month after teams organised swimathons, long distance cycle rides and music festivals.

The work of pub employees last month (May 2019) means the company has now raised more than £6m for Macmillan Cancer Support since 2012​.

In the annual ‘Macmillan May’ month, Greene King's pubs across the country raised £680,000 – almost double the amount Greene King raised last year.

More than 1,500 sites took part in a series of initiatives from traditional sponsored events like marathons and danceathons, to 'wackier' events such as a ‘gunge your colleague’ event.

Several teams tested their physical endurance – one team cycled from London to Amsterdam, while another completed a 2,000 mile tour of each Farmhouse Inn in the country, and another walked the 17-mile ‘tartan trek’ around Edinburgh.

Passion for the cause

Nick Mackenzie, chief executive at Greene King said: “I’ve been out visiting our pubs during May and our teams have been so passionate about supporting Macmillan.

“Our incredible team members have put their all behind raising money and I’d like to thank our customers who have been so supportive and generous in helping us reach this record-breaking amount for Macmillan.”

A donation from sales of specially marked desserts is also made to the charity.

Lynda Thomas, chief executive officer at Macmillan Cancer Support said raising such a huge figure in just a month was a “truly amazing” feat.

She explained: “This money, along with the other generous donations year-round from Greene King staff and customers, will make a tangible difference to people living with cancer helping us to realise our ambition to be right there for people from the moment of their diagnosis.

“Macmillan is funded almost entirely by donations, and without the continued generosity of the public and partners like Greene King, we simply wouldn’t be able to provide vital support to people at their times of greatest need."

Money raised from ‘Macmillan May’ will be used to provide one-off grants for people living with cancer to help with the added costs of illness, ranging from heating bills to travel costs.

“We are truly grateful to all of you,” Thomas added.

 

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