A charity bike ride sponsored by McMullen, the family brewer based in Hertford, has raised just over £50,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Skeletal Cancer Action Trust, it has been announced.
The Ellis 50 Miler bike ride was organised by Billie Shorten, daughter of Peter Clark, who is the tenant of McMullen pub The Millstream. It was held in honour of Billie’s sister Ellis, who sadly lost her battle against Osteosarcoma, the most common form of bone cancer, just after her 16th birthday.
Over 700 riders took part on the day, which would have been Ellis’s 22nd birthday, while several hundred people came to watch. The route took place over 50 miles of the beautiful Goldings estate in Hertford, where Ellis lived, with perfect weather conditions ensuring a great day was had by those riding, and those watching the race and enjoying the on-site bouncy castles.
McMullen supported Billie throughout her organisation of the race, promoting it through its pubs while also giving each participant a well-deserved free half pint of McMullen beer. McMullen also provided the event with free soft drinks which were sold at the bar to raise money.
The superb amount raised by the event has encouraged Billie to hold one more Ellis 50 Miler bike ride in May 2015, on what would have been Ellis’s 23rd birthday, with the aim of attracting 1000 bikers, and inviting local BBC radio presenters to commentate on the race.
Billie commented: “The Teenage Cancer Trust and the Skeletal Cancer Action Trust were a fantastic source of support for Ellis and our family throughout her three and a half year battle, and I’m delighted that we’ve managed to raise such a considerable amount of money at this year’s Ellis 50 Miler. I’m incredibly grateful for McMullen’s help with the bike ride, and look forward to raising even more next year!”
Gavin Mansfield, Tenant Operations Manager for McMullen, added: “We were very proud to be able to support this event, which raised money for two very well-deserving charities. Billie and her team worked incredibly hard to make the race the success it was, and should be very pleased with their achievements. We’re always happy to support our tenants however we can, and see charity projects such as this an important way to help and give back to our local community.”
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Notes to Editors
About McMullen
McMullen is a family brewer based in Hertford, England. The company operates 45 tenanted pubs, eight Pub Operator Agreement pubs and 81 managed outlets, including six Baroosh style bars, the first of which opened in Hertford in 2000. All McMullen pubs and bars are located in the northern Home Counties, from central London to Chelmsford in the East, to Windsor in the West and to Cambridge in the North.
For all McMullen press enquiries please contact:
Sarah Featley, elliotts
T: 01296 714745 e: sarah@elliottsagency.com