Alameda Pipe-athon 2019 – Hitting cancer for Six!

For the sixth year in a row, the Alameda Pipe-athon hit the bars of The Island City on New Year's Eve (Hogmanay in Scotland, Hogmabay in the Bay Area!), with Scottish ex-pat and Alameda resident Andy MacKay playing Auld Lang Syne on the bagpipes in 20 bars and restaurants on the island, raising funds for the American Cancer Society and 'hitting cancer for six' (a quaint British cricket term!).

Accompanied by Team Pipe-athon, including Jake and Elwood Blues and Sister Mary Stigmata, to ‘encourage’ Alamedans to donate to ACS, Andy also played for officers at the Alameda Police Department on the way round, as an appreciation of their service. And the Blues Brothers got away with it!

“The Alameda Pipe-athon has become a great way to spread some traditional Scottish New Year Cheer, and to raise some much needed funds to combat cancer” MacKay says. “This year in particular I’m playing for my brother-in-law, Sylvester, who is bravely battling prostate cancer in the UK.”

Over 6 years, the Pipe-athon has raised almost $25,000 dollars for American Cancer Society. So far this year’s event has raised nearly $4,500 of the $6,000 target, which they are still hoping to achieve. “We’d like to thank all the people of Alameda who came out to support us and ACS. It’s always great fun and a unique way to spend New Year’s Eve!”

Please consider helping the Pipe-athon Team achieve their target with online donations to ACS at www.hogmabay.org