Tributes are being paid to former Thornbridge Brewery employee Jenny Walker, who this week lost a brave fight against bowel cancer.
Jenny had been working with Thornbridge on a venture to raise money for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity, based in Sheffield.
Thornbridge said: “We’re devastated to announce our dear friend Jenny won’t be around to pull the first pint of JenPour after losing her battle with cancer earlier this week.”
JenPour was a rebranded version of Thornbridge’s flagship Jaipur IPA, renamed especially for the fundraising effort.
Despite her devastating diagnosis, Jenny and her family have used the time to fund raise an enormous amount for charity and raise awareness of bowel cancer. With this in mind and as a way to leave a legacy for her children, Thornbridge decided that Jen deserved a chance to take the place of their flagship beer for a day.
The idea was born and Jaipur was renamed JenPour on Friday (November 9). Not only this, but all proceeds from sales of JenPour on that day, in Thornbridge pubs, are being donated to the cancer charity.
Thornbridge Brewery chief executive, Simon Webster, said: “At such a devastating time for Jenny’s family, we are truly moved by the actions of our peers in the industry, as well as our customers.
“We have received hundreds of messages of support from people across the country, as well as kind donations to help us to raise as much money as possible.
“A big Thank you to Camden Town Brewery and Kicking Horse for their action. In 14 years of being a part of the craft beer industry this is genuinely one of the kindest things we’ve seen.”
‘An absolute tragedy’
Jenny’s husband, Michael, said: “There’s no getting round the fact that this is an absolute tragedy. Our three incredible little girls, Nia (7), Cora (4) and Beth (1) have lost their mummy, and there’s no age at which that isn’t earth-shatteringly awful…
“It’s impossible to sum her up, but if you knew her you would have felt the difference her kindness, generosity and determination could make. She was incredible and I loved her from the moment I met her. All she ever wanted to be was a mummy. And she is, and she was, and she always will be.”
Camden Town Brewery is donating the proceeds from its cask Jaipur, and craft beer merchant Kicking Horse UK will also donate proceeds from any casks of Jaipur sold on November 9 through its distribution channels.
You can make a donation and be entered into a fundraising raffle at justgiving.com/fundraising/jenpour
You can also donate by text. Text POUR59 then your amount to donate to 70070, eg POUR59 £10
