Brakspear fundraising for Sue Ryder hits £4,000
February 17, 2016
Brakspear pubs have raised a total of £4,000 for Sue Ryder, four months after the launch of the first estate-wide charity partnership, which aims to collect £50,000 for the charity.
Top of the fundraising table is the Hare & Hounds at Sonning Common, where tenants Mick & Claire Sugg have raised an amazing £1,500. The pub’s popular meat draw and pub quiz bring in regular contributions to the Sue Ryder fund, while Mick & Claire also find other ‘one off’ opportunities – they are about to raffle a rare bottle of whisky, for example.
Claire said, “Our customers have been so generous in their support for Sue Ryder, we’re really grateful to them. It helps that Sue Ryder is so well known locally, with many of our regulars having been touched by the charity’s support for their friends or relatives.”
Mick & Claire have integrated their fundraising with their usual activities at the Hare & Hounds, rather than organising too many special events which would create an additional workload. They’ve also made the most of the support available from Sue Ryder, who provided a prize for their Christmas draw and publicise their events.
Several pubs have raised money by simply adding a voluntary contribution to the price of a popular menu item. The Flower Pot in Aston, near Henley, added 50p to its popular pies and, together with a collecting tin on the bar, has raised close to £200. Meanwhile, the Angel on the Bridge in Henley has raised £100 in four weeks by putting 50p on its Sunday roasts.
At the Lamb Inn near Witney, tenants Rachel & Matt Weedon also added a Sue Ryder contribution to their meals which, thanks to the pub’s outstanding reputation for food, raised an impressive £550 during November and December, with a further £200 raised from a Christmas market and quiz night.
Tom Davies, Brakspear chief executive, said, “It’s great to see so many of our pubs getting behind our partnership with Sue Ryder and we’re pleased to see the amount moving up towards our £50,000 target. We’re grateful to all our tenants and their customers for supporting this very deserving charity, who will put every penny raised to good use.”
The money raised by Brakspear will be used by Sue Ryder to provide hospice care at the Duchess of Kent and Nettlebed Hospices, Charles Clore Unit, Newbury and Wokingham Day Hospice.
Sue Ryder provides hospice and neurological care for people facing a frightening, life-changing diagnosis. It aims to be safety net for patients and their loved ones at the most difficult time of their lives. Sue Ryder treats more conditions than any other UK charity in its hospices, neurological care centres and out in the community, as well as campaigning to improve the lives of people living with them.
Caption to photograph: Claire & Mick Suggs of the Hare & Hounds, who have now raised £1,500 for Sue Ryder