Originally published by the Augusta Press at https://theaugustapress.com/beer-was-happy-to-help-raise-money-for-cancer-research/

Although Savannah River Brewing Co. was closed Thursday afternoon, several of its employees and some guests were on hand for a special presentation.

“When Mike (Ellison) and I started this, we wanted to have a business that gave back to the community,” said Brian Ertter, the brewery’s sales manager, who was among those on hand to present a $10,000 check to Paceline, a charity with 100% of its proceeds going to benefit cancer research at the Georgia Cancer Center. Ellison is Savannah River Brewing Co.’s general manager.

Earlier this year, Adam Fulmer created a strawberry blonde ale dubbed “Happy to Help,” which featured the “Happy” robot as part of its packaging. Fulmer was a longtime friend of artist Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman and Ian Mercier, who is the president and CEO of the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, which facilitates Paceline, a bike ride held in October.

Released in August, the beer was a limited edition with only 30 barrels brewed. Thirty barrels equates to 177 cases or 197,000 ounces of the beer. It sold out quickly. Not only did it sell at Savannah River Brewery, but it also was packaged and sold at stores.

Ertter said it sold in Savannah and Atlanta, and it was requested at locations in South Carolina and Tennessee.

Ertter said the dollar amount raised will be higher than $10,000 because Beer Me Augusta, which distributed the product, has agreed to donate a portion of its sales to the charity as well.

Mercier was appreciative of the efforts of everyone involved to come up with the idea, brew the beer and make it available.

“A lot of time and talent goes into it,” he said.

Through partnerships such as the Happy To Help beer, Paceline raised more than $330,000 for cancer research.

The possibility of another beer next year is in the works.

Other events to help the cancer center include the Unite in the Fight Against Cancer. Registration for the March 2022 event was opened last week according to a news release from the cancer center.

“Everyone in our community has been touched by cancer in some way,” said Dr. Jorge Cortes, director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University in the news release. “This is why we believe in bringing people together for this annual walk and fundraiser. It is our opportunity to show support to current cancer patients, their families, their friends, as well as honoring and remembering those we lost, while raising funds to support projects that have a direct impact in patient care.”

This fund was created to offer financial support to projects designed to enhance the patient experience and improve support programs available to all cancer patients.

Teams are being formed now for the event, which is scheduled for March 19, 2022, at the Bank of America Plaza located between the Medical College of Georgia and newly constructed College of Science and Mathematics on Augusta University’s Health Sciences Campus.

“It will be a culmination of a week-long celebration that will bring awareness to all types of cancer to help participants and supporters learn more about cancer, how to prevent cancer, and what screening options are available to catch cancer earlier to improve the survival rate,” it said.