Reunion - A Beer For Hope

Reunion Beer is Alan Shapiro's project to raise money for the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. You can help by donating money or buying the beer, or both! Alan explains how and why in this email, recently distributed throughout the beer industry.

For those of you interested in learning more about the
Reunion - A Beer for Hope project, last week I did an
interview with Pacific Brew News which is available
online at:

Show Page
http://pacificbrewnews.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=188119

Direct Download
href="http://media.libsyn.com/media/pacificbrewnews/PBN_041_20070228.mp3">http://media.libsyn.com/media/pacificbrewnews/PBN_041_20070228.mp3

We'll have it up on the href="http://www.reunionbeer.com/">www.reunionbeer.com
site very soon.

As I note in the interview, the beer has been very
well-received - but beer sales alone won't get us to our
fundraising goal.  For those of you that can make any
small contribution, please do so as soon as possible.
They are getting very close to a cure, and the money
we raise can potentially make a huge difference in the
lives of thousands of Myeloma patients - including my
friend Virginia.

You can click on the donate now button on the
href="http://www.reunionbeer.com/">www.reunionbeer.com site, or go to
href="http://www.imbcr.org/donate_now.htm">www.imbcr.org/donate_now.htm.

Thanks for supporting REUNION!

Cheers,
Alan

------------------------------------------ 02/07/07

Dear friends and industry colleagues,

I'm writing to tell you about a special charity
beer that I have created to raise funds for the
Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research
(IMBCR) and to ask for your support. (To fast
forward on the explanation please go to
href="http://www.reunionbeer.com/">www.reunionbeer.com).

Nearly 4 years ago my very close friend and former
co-worker at Pete's Brewing, Virginia MacLean, was
diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma - a currently incurable
form of bone cancer.  For now, myeloma patients must hope
that their doctors are able to find the right combination
of chemo drugs to "manage" the disease.

Fortunately, Virginia is being treated by a doctor whose
particular brilliance is in his ability to mix common
compounds like vitamin C and varying doses of typical
myeloma treatment drugs to customize solutions for his
patients. In many cases he has been able to dramatically
improve the quality and length of his patients' lives.

Virginia's case has been difficult - but on the 6th
drug cocktail mix, there has finally been meaningful
improvement.  This is fantastic news, but it does come at
a significant physical and emotional cost - it is chemo.
To watch her go through this with incredible grace and
strength while holding a full time tech job and raising
a beautiful 2 year old girl is remarkable.

Unfortunately, I am not a great scientist who can help
find a cure for this disease, but I do know a little bit
about creating beers and bringing them to market.  So,
with the help of our friend Pete Slosberg (the creator
of Pete's Wicked Ale) we have created REUNION Organic
Imperial Brown Ale, brewed at Bison Brewery in Berkeley,
CA (see attached label).

Our goal is to create awareness and raise funds for IMBCR
- the foundation operated by Virginia's doctor, James
Berenson.  I will donate 100% of the profits generated
by the sale of this beer, and several partners such as
Beverages & More! & Kimpton Hotels are working
with us to promote the beer and this cause.  Over the
next 30 days the beer will be available at leading
specialty beer retailers in CA, OR, WA, AZ, CO, & IL.
If you don't live in one of those states, please email
me and I'd be happy to direct you to retail accounts
who may be able to ship the beer to you via mail order.
There is also information on these retailers on the
href="http://www.reunionbeer.com/">www.reunionbeer.com site, as well as much more 
on Virginia's story.

Here's how you can help:

1. DONATE MONEY!  I have visited the IMBCR facilities
and met the team.  They are doing fantastic work
and need our support.  Whether you can contribute
$10 or $10,000 it will make a difference.
href="http://www.reunionbeer.com/">www.reunionbeer.com will take you to the donation page.

2. Buy the beer!

3. Spread the word.  Feel free to pass this message
along to others who you think may be interested.
You can also send comments, suggestions, or words
of encouragement via the contact page on the
href="http://www.reunionbeer.com/">www.reunionbeer.com site.

Thanks for your help in making this project a great
success.

Cheers,
Alan