Brothers take tee-total challenge for Charlie Bear

Two brothers have pledged to abstain from drinking alcohol for ten weeks in the run-up to Christmas to raise money for the Charlie Bear Cancer charity at the Freeman Hospital’s Northern Centre for Cancer Care.

Garry Jennings, 30, from Hebburn and his brother Peter, 26, from Killingworth, both of whom work for Sintons Law Firm in Newcastle, have agreed to go teetotal until the firm’s annual Christmas Party on 14th December.

Speaking today, Garry, an IT Trainer with the firm, said: “Peter and I are very sociable so this is proving to be a tough challenge for us. We especially like a pint of Guinness or two at the end of a busy week at Sintons, where all the staff have been really supportive.  We’re both keen on sports and one of the tactics to avoid the temptation of Newcastle city centre has been to sign up for more five-a-side football matches, so we should be getting fitter too.  I’ve also bought a cinema pass that allows my girlfriend Ashley and me unlimited access. I’ve now seen ‘Taken 2’ at least three times!”

The brothers originally set a fundraising target of £250 by asking colleagues to sponsor them to stay teetotal for ten weeks. This figure was exceeded in just two days of setting up their Just Giving page for online donations. They have now raised over £500 and still have nearly 50 ‘dry’ days to go.

Said Garry,“I have long admired the work of the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital here in Newcastle and have often volunteered at fundraising events like golf days, fun runs and walks, so I was delighted when staff at Sintons chose Charlie Bear as their Charity of the Year for 2012.”

In addition to their normal fundraising and charitable donations, Sintons, based at ‘The Cube’ opposite St James’ Park, has committed 80 days of staff time each year to provide hands-on help in the local community. This ‘bank of time’ has already led to activities such as planting trees for the National Trust at Seaton Deleval Hall, decorating a community centre in the West End of Newcastle and helping a primary school in Northumberland with a construction project.

Partner Amanda Maskery, Chair of the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility committee said: “Every year our staff vote for the charity they wish to support and actively take part.  This year they chose the Charlie Bear Cancer Care charity and we’ve been so proud of their enthusiasm to get involved for such a good cause. Staff have donated unwanted clothing so it could be exchanged for cash, organised a street party and sold computer screens no longer needed by the firm. Other planned events include our second Christmas Market, dress down days and quiz nights.  I wish Garry and Peter all the best for their challenge and hope that as many people as possible will consider making a donation.”

The brothers have set up a Just Giving page for friends, family, colleagues or anyone wishing to make a donation, on www.justgiving.com/gaz-pete

Charlie Bear for Cancer Care is a charitable fund dedicated to raising money for the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, an award-winning , state-of-the-art centre based at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital which is already internationally renowned and is at the forefront of research and development of new technologies in cancer treatment.  The centre houses some of the most advanced and accurate radiotherapy equipment currently available in the UK.

In December 2011 Charlie Bear launched its ‘Cyber Surgery’ appeal which aims to take the Northern Centre for Cancer Care one step further by providing a new piece of equipment which will represent the jewel in the crown for cancer treatment and enable local cancer patients to be treated more quickly and effectively than ever before.

Anyone with further fundraising ideas can contact the Charlie Bear Appeal office on 0191 213 8615.