Jeff Gates, foreground, competes in Bent Water Brewery’s Beer & Bags Tourney to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research on Sunday. Photo by Paula Muller
By Leah Dearborn
LYNN — Participants turned out for a beer and a good cause at the Bent Water Brewing Co. on Sunday.
The 1st annual Beer & Bags Tourney to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research was hosted at their brewery location on Commercial Street.
“We plan on doing a lot of charity events. We want to make it a fun environment,” said Chris Crawford, brewery managing partner, who estimated a turnout of 20-30 teams to play against each other in a bean bag toss tournament.
The Beer & Bags Tourney marked the first charity event held by the brewery since it opened in December.
Half of the money raised by the event will go to The New England Parkinson’s Ride, the largest annual fundraiser for the Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research, said Brett Rosenbaum, board member of the Parkinson’s Ride.
The ride will take place on Sept. 10 in Old Orchard, Maine, and Bent Water will be on tap for a post-ride refreshment.
The remainder of the funds raised by the Beer & Bags Tourney will go to the brewery, which partial owner Jennifer Reames said has found overwhelming support in the city of Lynn.
“A lot of us have been affected by someone with Parkinson’s,” said Reames, who added that she’s happy to be able to give back to the community after receiving such a warm welcome.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is an organization that fights to find treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. Since 2000, the foundation has donated over $450 million toward Parkinson’s research, according to the organization’s website.
“It’s for a good cause,” said Swampscott resident Justin Bush, who turned out with friends to participate in the Beer & Bags event. “Great venue, great beer, great people.”