Cheers! This is the celebratory message from a team of 13 Pendle residents who have managed to go a whole month without touching a drop of alcohol.
The group, which was made up of hardened regulars and staff members at The Alma Inn, in Emmott Lane, Laneshaw Bridge, took on Cancer Research UK’s Dryathlon challenge at the start of January.
As a result of their efforts, they are delighted to announce they have raised almost £3,000 for the charity.
The amount came about after XLCR Vehicle Management pledged to double the money that was in the pot at 5pm on January 31st. This meant the local company added £1,317 to the already impressive total.
The group, who have been finding other ways to fill their social calendar, was made up of Coun. Paul White, manager at Nationwide Marquees Chris Jowett, IT manager at XLCR Vehicle Management Stephen Price, owners of The Alma Inn, Lee Duerden and Shaun O’Neil, Gavin Wallbank, mum-of-two Becky Hilton, NHS data quality coordinator Emma-Jane Macdonald, operations manager at The Alma Inn Michelle Kendal, head of logistics at XLCR Vehicle Management Ryan Duerden, general manager at The Alma Inn Ryan Taylor, sports coaching development student at Liverpool JMU Chris Gill, and aerospace engineer at Rolls-Royce Nicholas Ellis.
Coun. White said: “What started out as a detox grew and grew.
“We set ourselves a target of £500, but in the last 24 hours of January the donations pledged were incredible. We just could not believe it.
“So far over 100 people have donated online and doing it for such a worthwhile charity meant none of us could flounder.
“I think cancer is something which has touched everyone’s life so we all had a connection.”
Mr Jowett said: “The hardest bit wasn’t going to be going to the pub, but missing out on the social side of it, but if anything we’ve probably all spent more time together.
And Mr Price added: “It’s been a really good incentive to get active.
“We’ve been going to the gym and getting out walking so it’s been great. I think we’re going to keep that up now”.
The challenge was perhaps the most difficult for Mr Gill, who returned to University while his fellow team members had each other for support. He said that doing it for charity was what really helped him stick to it.
Since completing the challenge, Team Alma have had plenty of time to celebrate, with the end of the month coinciding with The Alma Inn’s staff Christmas party, Pendle Blues football club’s annual race night, and a birthday party to mark XLCR Vehicle Management’s birthday.
Mr Taylor added: “On behalf of all thirteen of us I’d like to thank all the friends, family and colleagues who have donated to this great cause, and to XLCR for their very generous sponsorship”.