Bartenders around Australia are being encouraged to join the 2012 U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year competition to help raisefunds for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Topdeck has thrown its support behind a quirky national fundraising competition run by the Leukaemia Foundation to help Australians who are facing the challenges of blood cancer.

The Foundation is searching for bartenders across Australia who are U.G.L.Y. – that isUnderstanding, Generous, Likeable, You – as part of its 2012 U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Yearfundraising event.

The competition will run in Queensland from 21 July to 3 September, and from 1 October to 9 November in all other states.

Over a six-week period, bartenders will get creative and hold fundraisers in their venue, with great prizes on offer for top fundraisers in each state.

The bartender who raises the most money in Queensland will win Topdeck’s Ultimate Surfari Reverse 5-day  experience from the Gold Coast to Sydney plus $200 spending money. They will also be eligible for an incentive prize based on the total funds they raise.

In other states, the winner will receive a tropical 6-day holiday from Cairns to Airlie Beach including one night sailing in the Whitsundays, most meals and return flights. There are also runners up prizes and prize draws for everyone who raises over $1,000.

The venue supporting the winning bartender in each state will also receive a prize.

”This is an innovative competition and a very worthy cause which Topdeck is proud to support,” Topdeck sales manager Ben Ittensohn said. “We look forward to seeing lots of U.G.L.Y. bartenders with a heart of gold participating.”

Leukaemia Foundation of Australia CEO Peter Cox said bartenders were in a unique position to chat with their patrons and raise awareness of leukaemia cause through the campaign.

“Every dollar raised helps provide vital support such as accommodation and counselling for patients and their families struggling with the ugly reality of a blood cancer diagnosis,” he said.

“Last year, Australian U.G.L.Y. Bartenders raised $1 million to fund free services to support people with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders and we know this year’s group will be just as passionate about making a difference.”