Pacing Forward: Paceline & Savannah River Brewery Unite for Happy2Help
Augusta is gearing up this fall for Paceline! Since 2019, Paceline has awarded 33 research grants — a total of $1.7 million in funding — directly to innovative cancer projects at the Georgia Cancer Center. Six of those projects specifically focus on cancer’s impact in the CSRA, making sure research dollars stay close to home. And with 100% of every dollar raised going straight to cancer research, the results have been game-changing.
This year’s PaceDay rolls out on Sunday, October 5, with a fundraising goal of $500,000. Already, more than 350 riders on 40+ teams have registered, raising over $123,000 toward the mission.
A Beer with a Story: Happy2Help
Collaboration comes in all manners, including beer. The Happy2Help collaboration between Savannah River Brewing Company, MCG Foundation, and local artist Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman is proof.
The idea started with three childhood friends; Adam Fulmer, head brewer at Savannah River Brewing; Ian Mercier, the president and CEO of MCG Foundation; and the award-winning graphic designer Porkchop, who grew up together and decided to put their talents to work for Paceline.
“It made sense to bring the three friends together to do what they do best — and now we have Happy2Help,” says Cayla Long, Paceline’s director of communications and events. “Porkchop comes up with the design for the can. Adam comes up with the beer, and Ian helps bring in the people.”
This year marks the second release of Happy to Help, and the story behind the beer is as memorable as the taste.
Fulmer explains:
“We ran around some ideas, and I came up with a strawberry blonde ale. Ian and Leonard both laughed, because when they were teenagers, they actually dyed their hair strawberry blonde. It looked horrible, but it stuck and became the inspiration for this beer.”
So what’s in the glass?
So what’s in the glass?
Base Pilsner malt + honey malt for a clean, subtle sweetness.
Strawberry added just before packaging, so the flavor is fresh and not overwhelming.
A crisp, refreshing ale with just enough fruit to keep it interesting.
For Fulmer and his friends, it’s more than a good pint:
“I think for all three of us, this beer and collaboration is very near and dear to our hearts because everybody in this room has probably been affected by cancer in some form or fashion. We wanted to do this in hopes of pushing forward to eradicate cancer on all fronts.”
🎥: Watch Happy2Help come off the canning line
How You Can Join the Movement
Ride, walk, or run on Paceline’s PaceDay on October 5.
Donate, volunteer, or become a Paceline Pal.
Spread the word — every pour, pedal, and post makes a difference.
This fall, whether you’re riding, walking, running, raising a glass, or just cheering from the sidelines, there’s one unifying message: we’re happy to help.
