Pub-goer drops the drink for charity

Kevin Wilson, from Willenhall, is a regular at the Ring O' Bells pub on John Street and is part of the darts team.

He regularly spends his weekends in his local but throughout March he decided to put down the pints and pick up the soft drinks to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The 57-year-old raised £514 during March by taking donations from people in the pub and at work.

Kevin said: "My stepson did dry January and I saw how much money he raised for Birmingham Children's Hospital, and I thought I'd give it a go.

"I love a pint so it was hard, the wife didn't think I could do it.

"But I walked into the pub on March 1, it was a Friday, I ordered a coke, saw the sweets from Make-A-Wish and decided I would raise the money for them.

"I did it for something worthwhile and that's why I carried it on, otherwise I probably would have given up.

"I raised the money through word of mouth around work and the pub, I was really chuffed.

"It's in the name, this money will help make wishes for the children, it's wonderful.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard, and I chose a month with five weekends, and I love my darts, but it was worth it for the kids."

Deborah Brown, aged 45, pub manager at the Ring O' Bells, said: "He plays in our darts team so he still had to come to the pub, which made it hard for him.

"It was difficult for him to have soft drinks while all his mates were on pints, it was about having a drink and relaxing but he couldn't.

"I admire what he's done, it's a big achievement and £500 is a lot of money.

"We sell the Make-A-Wish sweets behind the bar, so it's a worthy cause, we're proud of him."