Welcome to the Candlelight page
We’ve delighted to report that we smashed our 10,000 target and raised over 11,500! Huge thanks to everyone who donated so generously, especially Haven Holidays, who gave £1000. Here’s a picture taken at the presentation evening kindly hosted by Bridlington’s Marine Bar.
L-R Gill Mellor, Jonny Cussins and Kyle Gregory from Haven, Dr Ian Lewis, Barbara Bayes
This page is inspired by Dan Bayes, the son of our cellarman, Geoff Bayes, who lost his battle to an aggressive bone cancer earlier this year, aged just 25.
We have known Dan and his family for many years and, although we were overcome with grief over his untimely death, we are in awe of the fortitude shown by Dan and his family, supported by Candlelighters, throughout Dan’s 13 year illness and were inspired to raise money so that Candlelighters can help other children with childhood cancer make their lives and that of their families more bearable.
For those of you who didn’t know Dan, click here to read his mum’s account of his life – tragically brief, but fun filled and action packed.
We wanted to raise as much money for Candlelighters as possible. Head brewer and keen runner Tony O’Rourke Kilburn offered to raise money by taking part in Europe’s biggest half marathon, The Great North Run, and fellow employees Katy, Alex and Dan’s mum, Barbara agreed to keep him company.
Pounding the streets of Tyneside isn’t good for Tom’s knees so he volunteered to raise money by brewing a limited edition beer instead and I decided to ask suppliers if they would donate goods and services free of charge so that all the proceeds could go to Candlelighters.
We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our suppliers; here’s a list of everyone who has embraced our dream of raising £10,000 to help people like Dan – thank you everyone.
Charles Faram for hops
Croxsons for bottles
Fawcetts for malt
Justinor for gift boxes
Springfield for labels
three60 marketing and pr for publicity
Wicked Poppy Designs for label design
Wellington Inn, Lund for hosting the launch event that raised over £1300 – thanks everybody
Tom and Gill Mellor