3:52pm Friday 8th February 2008
By Ben Briggs
BREWERY staff, pubs and clubs marked their firm's 200th birthday by raising £110,000 for charity.
As part of its bicentenary celebrations last year, Blackburn brewer Daniel Thwaites pledged to focus its fundraising efforts on raising cash for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
After 12 months of Thwaites' pubs, clubs and employees from across East Lancashire doing their bit, the BHF was handed a six-figure cheque.
Penny Hamer, corporate partnership manager for the BHF, said the cash would make a real difference.
She said: "It's just a fantastic amount that has been raised.
"The original target was £25,000 but everybody really took the cause to their hearts.
"It really choked me when I first found out the final figure, I was amazed.
"It means we can do a number of different things towards our heart nurse programme in order to look after those who have been released from hospital after having treatment.
"I am really touched with what Thwaites has done."
From race nights to auctions and quiz nights to sponsored runs, many of Thwaites' employees, customers and suppliers have really got behind the northern brewer's pledge to raise money for the nation's heart charity which leads the fight against disease of the heart and circulation.
Thwaites' marketing executive Christine Robinson said: "The British Heart Foundation helps so many people in so many different ways.
"It is wonderful to be able to support a charity that has personally helped our friends and colleagues here at Thwaites."
Brian Jenkins, sales and marketing director of Thwaites, presented Penny Hamer from British Heart Foundation with a cheque for the money raised, and former Emmerdale star Claire King was there to lend her support.
Some of the money will also be used to fund the BHF's heart information line which gives those with heart problems a number to call to discuss problems or concerns.
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