Pubs Cheer On McMillan Cancer Support

A well-known beer brand is backing a campaign for pubs and clubs across Northern Ireland to join with them in raising £50,000 for the charity, Macmillan Cancer Support.

Tennent's NI will be raising the bar for this year as the charity celebrates its centenary and has pledged a year of corporate support and will be asking the licensed trade to add its weight to the new Tennent's NI 'Ton Raiser' appeal.

Miss Northern Ireland, Lori Moore helped Tom McCusker, Managing Director of Tennent's NI, launch the appeal.

He said: "There are tons of good reasons for supporting Macmillan Cancer Care and the great work they do so we are confident that, in partnership with our customers, we'll meet that £50K target.

"The licensed trade in Northern Ireland is famously generous in its support of charities and this is a good cause which strikes a chord with everyone, for there can be few families untouched by cancer.

"It's a serious appeal and we are planning to raise serious money, but we're also hoping to have some fun along the way as we take part in Macmillan's centenary programme.

"Our staff will be tackling everything from zip lining and dragon boat racing to team participation in the Belfast City Marathon which has also adopted Macmillan Cancer Support as an official charity," he said, noting that their licensed trade customers are also to take up the challenge with us by joining in Macmillan's fun fund-raising, staging events of their own or by simply placing collection boxes in their venues.

"With Macmillan we have set a modest target of £100 for each participating outlet, but we're hoping that will be just the start of a fantastic year of fund-raising for a fantastic charity."

Macmillan Cancer Support offers practical, medical, emotional and financial help to people affected by cancer. The charity provides specially trained medical professionals to the NHS and has recently opened an information and support centre in Belfast.

Claire Brown, Corporate Fundraising Manager NI (pictured with Tom and Miss NI) welcomed the heavyweight support for the new Ton Raiser appeal: "We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Tennnet's NI."

Claire continued: "This level of support is invaluable to Macmillan and we are extremely grateful to Tennent's NI for this commitment. We receive no government funding, therefore relying heavily on the support of Corporate NI to sustain our services across Northern Ireland."

(BMcC/GK)