Regulars and staff at the Man of Gwent pub in Newport raised £2,503 for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2018 to help people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical and emotional support.
The Man of Gwent is one of 30 pubs in Wales managed by Greene King, the UK’s leading pub company and brewer, which has now raised a staggering £5 million across the UK since choosing Macmillan as its charity partner in 2012.
The money raised by the pub chain helps to fund vital hours of Macmillan professional care, supporting people living with cancer across the UK.
The Man of Gwent pub in Newport used key events such as quizzes and rock’n’roll bingo to raise money for Macmillan.
It was part of a magnificent fundraising effort from Greene King team members and customers across Wales who raised more than £35,500 in 2018 – enough to pay for 1,270 hours of care from a Macmillan specialist cancer nurse.
The next fundraising initiative for these pubs launches later this month (February). Greene King is partnering with the charity Pennies, a digital alternative to the traditional collection tin, and will invite customers to make a 25 pence donation to charity when they spend over £15 and pay on a card machine via Chip & Pin.
With more than 1,700 pubs nationwide, this small individual gift will make a big difference, accumulating £1 million extra spending money for Macmillan over a year.
Charlie Gibbs who organises the Macmillan fundraising events at the Man of Gwent, said: “We tend to use our key events to support charity, and we raise quite a bit through that.
“We are actually quite a close-knit community in this part of Newport anyway. We always get a massive following via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. When we do have special occasions we’re never short of people to come along and support.
“For me personally, Macmillan has been very supportive. In February 2011, I lost my fiancée to cervical cancer, and I lost my mum to breast cancer in September of that same year. Macmillan had supported us the entire time.”
Speaking about Greene King’s fundraising, Richard Pugh, Head of Services for Macmillan in Wales, said: “This money goes directly to supporting people living with cancer and we are very grateful to the regulars at the Man of Gwent and to Greene King for their generosity.
“Macmillan relies on public donations for more than 99 per cent of our income and every single penny donated will make a genuine difference.
“Our support line, information services and Macmillan professionals are right there to make sure that everyone with cancer gets the support they need.”
If you need support or just want someone to talk to about cancer, call Macmillan Cancer Support free on 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk
Keep an eye out for Macmillan’s own cancer information and advice bus Bronwen in your community. Onboard are a team of trained professionals with first-hand experience of cancer treatments and front-line support services to provide information and advice to anybody with questions about cancer. Check Macmillan’s website for details.
