Pair's pedal power raises over £15,000 for charity

A dedicated duo from Airdrie-based global drinks business, International Beverage, undertook a gruelling 400 mile charity cycle to raise over £15,000 for cancer support charities Maggie’s Lanarkshire and Inverness.

Martin Leonard, the business’s former Managing Director and Finance Director Roger Hall beat their initial £4,000 target, by raising an impressive £7,840 which the company fund matched.

On Friday 12^th May the pair set off from the Wick-based Pulteney Distillery in the far North of Scotland, to bike a monumental route, which spanned across our five Scottish distilleries over four days.  The duo braved the unpredictable Scottish weather visiting Balblair, Speyburn, Knockdhu and Balmenach distilleries, before valiantly gearing up for the final stretch to their Lanarkshire HQ on Monday 15^th May.

Throughout the route, Martin and Roger were cheered on by distillery teams and their families, before receiving a warm welcome and celebratory dram from their colleagues upon their return to our Airdrie-based offices.

This year International Beverage employees voted Maggie’s, an organisation close to many of their hearts, as their charitable partner of the year.  The cycle is just one of many fundraising events that the company has lined up over the coming months.

Roger Hall, Chief Financial Officer for International Beverage, said:

“International Beverage has a longstanding commitment to supporting charities that matter to its staff and local community, our latest fundraiser is no exception. I had the pleasure of visiting the Maggie’s Centre in Airdrie just recently in preparation for this year’s partnership and fundraising. It is a remarkable place, very tranquil and calm. Like many others, my family has been impacted by cancer and this is what has driven me to get involved in trying to raise as much money as possible.  

“For anyone who has to visit Maggie’s it’s a worrying and confusing time in their lives but the people who work and volunteer there are just amazing at putting you and your family at ease and providing practical and loving support.”

Val Smith, Centre Fundraising Manager for Maggie's Lanarkshire, added:

“We are thrilled to have been selected as International Beverage’s Charity Partner of the Year. Their fundraising so far through the Glasgow Kiltwalk and other activities will ensure that we can continue to be there for families affected by cancer, across the Lanarkshire community.

"The 400 mile cycle challenge was not for the faint hearted however we had every faith that Martin and Roger would smash it! Maggie’s Lanarkshire and Inverness are overwhelmed and extremely grateful for the phenomenal £15,680 raised.”

Built in the grounds of Monklands Hospital, Airdrie, Maggie’s Lanarkshire relies on voluntary donations to run its high-quality programme of support. The charity’s aim is to make the biggest difference possible to people living with cancer and their family and friends.

International Beverage supports a wide-range of charities and community projects every year around their UK locations, including our inaugural ‘Spirit of Our Community Awards’, a programme offering financial support to voluntary and community groups, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations doing great work.

As the spirits arm of one of the world’s top ten drinks producers ThaiBev, International Beverage is responsible for the global sales, marketing and distribution of a multi-award-winning portfolio of premium brands, including single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc and Speyburn; the blended Scotch Hankey Bannister; and Caorunn, the pioneering super premium Scottish gin.