Partner Article

Businesses vie for winning position at charity awards evening

The past 13 weeks have witnessed furious competition between some of the region’s leading businesses in a bid to win the Dickinson Dees Enterprise Charity Challenge in aid of St Oswald’s Hospice.

Twenty companies from across the region have taken part in the entrepreneurial challenge to raise as much money as possible using £100 donated to each firm by Dickinson Dees.

St Oswald’s provides holistic care to both adults and children with life limiting conditions from across the region. The Hospice has to raise over £5 million every year through charitable giving to help cover the £7 million costs to run it.

Speaking of the success of the Dickinson Dees Charity Challenge, Anita Irving, Director of Fundraising at St Oswald’s said: “This year it has been more challenging than most to raise the funds necessary to secure the future running of the Hospice because businesses have suffered so badly as a result of the economic climate.

“We are thrilled that the Charity Challenge run by Dickinson Dees was so embraced by the region’s business community.”

Activities to raise money have included everything from golf days, sheep sales, wine tasting events, conferences in Dubai, moustache competitions and Wii challenges to auctions, bungee jumps and a Chilli Challenge event.

Robin Bloom, senior partner at Dickinson Dees said: “We have been absolutely astounded by the efforts that the companies involved have gone to. People really embraced the entrepreneurial spirit of the challenge and in the current economic climate, the achievements of each and every company involved should not be underestimated.”

St Oswald’s and Dickinson Dees will be celebrating the success of the Charity Challenge at an Awards Evening at As You Like it on 18 November, where the overall winner will be decided on by a panel of judges. For more information email vivwilliamson@stoswaldsuk.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .