On Sunday September 29th 2024 members of the Wine Trade Sports Club and Foundation will be walking around London in memory of Michael Hasslacher, who founded the charity over 50 years ago.

The 10 mile stroll will incorporate elements of the same route in the initial fundraising walk on April 25th 1971 finishing at the offices of The Drinks Trust near London Bridge where will coordinate with the riders on the final stage of The Harvest Tour.

For over 50 years, the Wine Trade Sports Club has raised funds for its charity the Wine Trade Sports Club Foundation who make significant annual donations to The Drinks Trust. All monies raised from the walk will go towards the Hasslacher Grant, a fund which the Foundation is creating this year for The Drinks Trust and into which we will contribute each year. This Grant will support members of the trade requiring urgent support which is above and beyond the assistance available from The Drinks Trust.

In July 1973, Michael Hasslacher alongside Patrick Lynch and David Bishop, established a Registered Charity known as Wine Trade Foundation. The Objects of the Foundation being 'for the benefit of the Benevolent, and the general relief of poverty among employees and former employees of the wine & spirit and ancillary trades, in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.'

For a number of years since its inception, fundraising activities focused on an annual Charity Walk around London, a tradition that has been maintained although not an annual event.

The initial walk raised £800 which provided a new television for the residents of the Vintry Homes in Eastbourne. Since then, the walk has been a key fundraising event for the charity who have raised almost £1 million since its inception.

Michael was a keen cricketer and golfer who, in his younger years, twice batted at Lords, once scoring a fifty. He spent most of his career involved in the Club, was a past Master of the Vintners' Company and former MD of family firm Deinhard & Co, he was a well known and hugely respected figure in the industry. We will be walking to honour Michael and his legacy.