7th July 2010

Royal Oak customers celebrate the end of a charity cycle ride for Different Strokes with a pint of the best long drink in the world – Hooky Bitter.

Eight customers of the Royal Oak in Whatcote, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire toast their successful completion of a charity cycle ride of more than 325 miles with a pint off the best long drink in the world – Hooky Bitter. "Out of shape, over aged and with more goodwill than sense," they cycled from Land's End to the Royal Oak pub in Whatcote to raise money for Different Strokes, a charity for young stroke survivors.

The journey took them five days. Led by Mike Druce, who had two strokes when he was aged 32, they raised more than £3,700 - and more money is promised. Stroke is the single largest cause of disability in the UK. 10,000 people under the age of 55 suffer a stroke every year - 1,000 of these are under the age of 30. Different Strokes is a registered charity providing a unique, free service to younger stroke survivors.

Mike said: "Thanks to the support of Ronnie and Penny at the Royal Oak we got wonderful promotional support from the Hook Norton Brewery.

"Ronnie and Penny put on a home coming party for us. We ate, we drank, we told wild tales of our adventure and had a wonderful, wonderful evening.

"I got a bit emotional at the end of the evening because Ronnie & Penny gave Different Strokes £200. I was very touched."

To make a donation go to Cycle Lands End To Oxhil For more information on Different Strokes please visit its website: www.differentstrokes.co.uk/