An inspiring fundraising challenge taken up by local businesses has raised more than £45,000 for a Harrogate Hospice care charity.
Money raised by the You’re Inspired challenge – which tasks teams to turn a £100 business loan into as much money as possible for Saint Michael’s hospice – will help support local families living with terminal illness and bereavement.
The Academy, CCF Accountancy, Envirovent, GoFit, The Manhattan Club, Network North, Rudding Park, Starbeck Conservative Club and Stockeld Park had one month to raise funds for Saint Michael’s and they rose to the challenge with events including skydives, a charity calendar, a log-splitting marathon, gruelling cycling challenges, luxury raffles, quizzes, a beer festival and even a jailbreak.
Teams attended a special celebration awards evening at the Crown Hotel where they were grilled by a panel of expert judges, who awarded prizes for most amount raised, best skydiver and most inspiring team member.
Judges were Jacqui Hall, Managing Director of CNG; Ged Maloney from Harrogate Town Football Club; Steve Phillip, Linkedin and Ruth Whiteley from TV’s The Apprentice 2015 contestant.
The skydiving award was presented to Chris Root of Rudding Park and Louise Styan from the Academy scooped award for most inspiring team member.
The overall winners were first-time entrants Rudding Park, who held a mammoth luxury raffle and completed a log splitting challenge. Second were previous winners The Academy and third, Stockeld Park.
Nicola Cook, Rudding Park’s marketing manager said:
Rudding Park is a member of the Saint Michael’s Guild of Patrons so we were keen to get involved and help raise money for such a worthwhile cause. We also love a challenge so it was great to get the whole team involved and we are thrilled to have won – particularly in our first year!
We must also thank everyone who kindly donated prizes and to our very generous guests for their support. We are already looking forward to next year’s challenge and thoroughly recommend other organisations to get involved.
Chief Executive of Saint Michael’s Hospice Tony Collins said:
Each year the creativity, ingenuity and determination of teams who take part in in this event inspire us. This year the teams have outdone themselves by raising a phenomenal amount and we are extremely grateful to them for their support. They are all winners in our eyes.
As a charity, Saint Michel’s relies on the generosity of the community to run our vital services each year. Every pound raised by events such as You’re Inspired means we can continue to deliver specialist services and expert care to more than 2,000 families in the district.
