Greene King has had another record-breaking year of fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support. The team members working across its breweries, support centres, and pubs collectively raised an incredible £3.8 million in 2023—a rise of £800k from the year before and the highest annual fundraising total in the partnership’s history.
With the potential to fund up to 82,353 Macmillan nursing hours, this most recent fundraising achievement is the equivalent of raising £434 every hour. This helps to ensure that those coping with cancer receive the support they require, when they need it most.
At the start of 2023, Greene King promised to donate its first £1 million in fundraising to Macmillan’s Emergency Grants Appeal which helps support the cost of living expenses for those living with cancer. Then, in May, the brewery and bar company declared that it had hit its first fundraising target for the year.
Since then, the fundraising effort has grown significantly. Team members from all over the UK have undertaken a variety of personal challenges, including running marathons, hiking, scaling mountains, and taking on the Yr Wyddfa (Snowdonia) Sea to Summit. Additionally, pub teams have hosted local fundraising events, pub quizzes, and Macmillan Coffee Mornings all year long helped by the £1 dropped into the collection tin on the bar to the 25p donations that are added via Pennies (the online collection tin).
Nick Mackenzie, Greene King CEO, said: “Every day we see people coming together in our pubs to support one another. This record-breaking fundraising total for Macmillan is a perfect example of this, where our dedicated pub teams have joined forces with our amazing communities to support a cause that is close to the hearts of so many.”
“It’s not just the big fundraising events that help draw in the much-needed funds. A large proportion of our fundraising is generated through the smaller donations made via collection tins and Pennies when our customers pay their bill. These little and often donations are not to be underestimated, as they really do add up to make a significant impact.”
“The £3.8m raised last year will help Macmillan to continue provide the important support they deliver to people living with cancer, and I know our team members across our pubs and support centres are galvanised and ready to go again in 2024!”
Gemma Peters, Chief Executive Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support said: “I am amazed by the incredible amount Greene King raised for us last year. The passion and dedication from the team members, as well as the generosity of Greene King customers, is very special. Their collective ambition to get behind the cause and raise as much money as possible is so inspiring and the funds raised mean even more people living with cancer will receive vital support from Macmillan, at a time when they need it most. To everyone involved, whether it is someone who has taken part in a challenge, hosted a coffee morning or generously donated to a fundraising tin, I cannot thank you enough.”
Greene King has supported Macmillan since 2012, raising over £17million in the last 11 years of its partnership with the cancer charity, with fundraising efforts continuing into 2024 in its 1,600 pubs, restaurants and hotels across the UK.