By Leicester Mercury | Posted: 10 July, 2015
After three months of competing to see how much they can "grow" £50, nearly 20 businesses and organisations have raised a record amount of more than £30,000 for LOROS Hospice.
Following a variety of tasks, fundraising events and challenges, the teams, who are all based in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, took on the challenge to see how much they could turn £50 in to.
Magdalena Korytkowska, Fundraising Co-ordinator at LOROS said: "It has been a very exciting, competitive and moving time as teams left their comfort zones and did amazing things in order to support their local hospice.
"The amount raised could cover the cost of a LOROS nurse to look after our inpatients for almost a year.
"I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of all of us at LOROS and our patients and their families for their hard work and innovative ideas."
It was British Gas who raised the highest amount this year, with a total of £5404.75.
The team's key fundraiser Daniel Chaplin said: "I set my personal target high at £5,000 because my wife's Mum passed away in LOROS in 1994 at the age of 44.
"I am so happy with our final total, not only did I achieve my personal target, but I also know this amount of money will make a great difference to this amazing charity."
Dedicated LOROS supporter's Palmers Garden Centre came second for the second year running smashing last year's target and raising £5,010 for LOROS.
The Freedom Care team won the award for 'Most Innovative Idea', after they raised money by organising a Gary Barlow tribute night.
Company director Kat Kinch even challenged herself to put her hands and feet into bowls full of baked beans despite suffering with a phobia of them.
She said: "It was dreadful, really, really awful.
"However, I'm delighted to say it raised a wonderful £340 towards our Accumulator Challenge, so it was worth every horrible moment."
The winner of the 'Most Engaging Idea' was HRG Leicester, who split their initial £50 between six team leaders, who then went on to recruit more people to embrace the campaign.
This year's Accumulator Challenge also welcomed young participants from Madani Schools Federation, 33rd/65th Leicester Scout Troop and Lime Tree Day Nursery.
The youngest participants from the Nursery were very innovative producing special, personalised LOROS keyrings which sold out, raising more than £1000 for the Hospice.
All of the awards were given at a special event on Tuesday.
More details about this year's Accumulator Challenges can be found by visiting loros.co.uk.
For more information about how you can get involved with supporting LOROS Hospice please call their fundraising department on (0116) 231 8431/2.
