THE brother of a pub owner gave up alcohol for a year to raise money for a charity that helped their father.
Craig Taylor, 43, from Laithes Lane in Athersley South, lost his father suddenly in 2012 as the result of an undetected, hereditary heart condition.
Lester, known by his friends as Robin, was believed to have flu yet suffered a devastating heart attack from which he did not survive.
In memory of his father, and to continue research into hereditary heart disease, Craig gave up alcohol for one year to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
“I used to have a four-pack on a Friday and sometimes I used to go to my sister’s pub and have a few there,” Craig said.
“I would have stopped drinking for myself in some ways, but I think the heart foundation do a lot of good work and test people for heart conditions like my dad’s so I decided to make this a challenge and to raise money for them.”
Craig, who raised £600 for the British Heart Foundation, began his challenge on New Year’s Day 2018 yet found it much easier than he anticipated.
He said: “For the first couple of weeks it felt weird but then after the first month it never bothered me.
“The hardest part was the first month and in summer when everyone went to the beer gardens but I didn’t let it get to me because I knew it was for a good cause.”
Yet even after his challenge has long since been over, Craig is in no hurry to return to drinking.
“I had a pint of John Smith’s at New Year and I had two or three sips and I didn’t like it.
“I’ve also lost three stone which is making me feel better and I walk my dog so I’m doing exercise. When you stop drinking you’ve got to occupy your mind.”
