Stonegate raises more than 13k for charity

The multi-site operator's customer contact centre team participated in a 2022 mile, non-stop 103-hour virtual cycle around the Stonegate Group pub estate between Monday 26 and Friday 30 ​September, with the team of 52 colleagues alternating turns on the bike as well as chipping in with fundraising efforts.

Stonegate commercial director Suzanne Baker said: “I’m extremely proud of the customer contact centre team who put in an amazing effort to raise this substantial sum for the MND Association. This idea has been in the making since June and it’s great to see everyone’s hard work pay off as it became a reality. We are thrilled all their hard work and cycling will be benefiting such a good cause.”

Fundraising partnership 

The virtual route took the team past 38 Stonegate Group pubs covering the most Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern sites, also covering the pubcos head offices, MND Association head office and Elland Road, the home of Stonegate Group chief executive officer, Simon Longbottom’s, beloved Leeds United.

Additionally, the route also covered five of the UK’s biggest drinks providers who worked closely with the customer contact centre team for the initiative including Budweiser Brewing Group; Molson Coors; Heineken UK; Greene King; and Diageo, all of which supplied fundraising support and a range of items from bottles of beer to an England Football shirt signed by the whole team.

The Tour de Stonegate is part of Stonegate Group’s ongoing corporate fundraising partnership with the MND Association and MND Scotland, announced earlier this year. Since the announcement Stonegate has raised more than £150,000 for the charities with activities and initiatives undertaken by its staff in pubs, bars, venues and head office support teams.

Making a difference 

According to the MND Association, there are an estimated 5,000 adults in the UK currently living with motor neurone disease with an average of six people diagnosed with MND every day.

Both MND Association and MND Scotland fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments, campaigning and raising awareness so the needs of people with MND across the UK are recognised and addressed by wider society. 

MND Association head of development Ian Gardner said: “We are very thankful for the fundraising efforts made by the Stonegate Group’s team at the customer contact centre. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for MND and fundraising initiatives like this will help us continue all-important MND research for treatments and a cure for this devastating disease.

"All the teams at Stonegate Group who have been fundraising are making a difference to the lives of people living with MND, their families and carers.”