GOOD times and good causes went hand in hand at this year’s Tameside Beer Festival, which raised over £9,000 for charities at home and abroad.
Organised by Tameside Rotary, the popular event filled Stalybridge Civic Hall in September, drawing around 1,000 visitors and supported by a dedicated team of 56 volunteers.
By the end of the weekend, festival-goers had enjoyed 2,200 pints of beer, cider, lager and wine – all in aid of worthy causes.
Among the main beneficiaries was Willow Wood Hospice, which received a £4,000 donation towards its provision of compassionate and dignified care for patients from Tameside and Glossop with any life-limiting illness.
Tameside Rotary President Mike Glover presented the cheque to Tara Farren, Community and Events Fundraiser, at the Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne this week.
The presentation brings Tameside Rotary’s total donations to the Hospice this year to £9,100.
The kind-hearted Rotarians have also given £2,500 to The Christie charity – which supports vital cancer care and research across the region. It was presented to Adam George, Community Fundraising Co-ordinator.
But the club’s charitable efforts don’t stop there as it’s also donating £1,000 across four local food banks providing support to families facing hardship this Christmas.
In addition, £1,200 is being shared between ShelterBox and Disaster Aid, helping deliver humanitarian relief to communities in Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Reflecting on the success of the Tameside Beer Festival, Mike Glover said: “We are delighted that so many people visited the Tameside Beer Festival this year. The charitable causes, who are the primary beneficiaries of this fundraiser, are those which are close to so many peoples’ hearts.
“The generosity of the local community, including Tameside businesses who sponsored the event, shows how much people value the services they provide. We are proud to be able to support them, and other charities, in this way.”
The Rotary’s fundraising efforts for this year are far from over. Preparations are already under way for the much-loved Santa float collection, which will begin on December 4.
The festive fundraiser will see Santa touring neighbourhoods across the borough, spreading cheer while raising money for local causes, with more details to come soon.