WEST HARTFORD, CT — A statewide tour bringing together Connecticut craft breweries and beer enthusiasts will return for a third year after helping raise more than $136,000 to fight blood cancer.
Founded by West Hartford resident Greg Hammond, the third annual CT Beer Tour for a Cancer-Free Future kicks off Saturday, Aug. 29, and will feature fundraising events at breweries across Connecticut through early October.
The effort benefits Blood Cancer United, formerly known as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
At scheduled tour stops, visitors can support the organization through donations, raffles, and other fundraising activities while visiting participating breweries.
The tour is also expanding this year with a Community Impact Partner program tied to September's Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Participating breweries will collect customer donations throughout the month, allowing people to contribute even if they cannot attend one of the scheduled events.
"From the beginning, the Beer Tour has been about bringing people together, having some fun and making a difference for families facing blood cancer," founder Greg Hammond said.
"The Community Impact Partner program gives breweries another way to be part of that mission and gives their customers an opportunity to make an impact throughout Blood Cancer Awareness Month, even if they can't attend one of our scheduled Beer Tour events," Hammond said.
Events announced so far include:
Broken Symmetry, Caius Farm Brewery in Branford, Phantom Burger & Brewery, and Problem Solved Brewing Co. have also been announced as Community Impact Partners and will collect donations during September.
Additional breweries and events could be added.
For Hammond, the fundraiser grew out of an effort to honor his father, Ken Hammond, former mayor of Celeron, N.Y, who died in 2015 following a battle with multiple myeloma.
"The CT Beer Tour started for one simple reason: I love my dad," Hammond said. "Ken Hammond was a loving husband, successful businessman, mayor, town councilman, church volunteer, fabulous role model, and an amazing dad. His life was cut short in 2015 when his courageous battle with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, ended."
Hammond later participated in the organization's 2024 Greater Connecticut Visionaries of the Year campaign.
A craft beer enthusiast and associate member of the Connecticut Brewers Guild, he developed the beer tour to connect Connecticut breweries with his fundraising campaign.
Twenty-three breweries participated in the inaugural tour.
Hammond and his team, The Hammond Hoptimists, raised $119,374 during the 2024 campaign, earning him the title of Greater Connecticut Visionary of the Year, according to organizers.
Combined fundraising from the 2024 and 2025 beer tours and related efforts has since surpassed $136,000.
"Blood cancer didn't stop affecting families when our original 10-week campaign ended, so I didn't want our efforts to stop either," Hammond said.
The beneficiary of the tour has also changed its name since the fundraiser began.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is now Blood Cancer United, a name intended to reflect its work on behalf of people affected by more than 100 types of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
The organization supports blood cancer research, patient services and advocacy.
Hammond said the broader name has particular significance to him because his father had multiple myeloma.
"When people heard the name Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, they might not have realized that the organization was also there for someone like my dad, who had multiple myeloma, or for people facing many other types of blood cancer," Hammond said. "Blood Cancer United better reflects the incredible breadth of people and families this organization serves."
Residents can participate by attending one of the scheduled tour stops, donating at a Community Impact Partner during September, or making a direct contribution.
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