Summer of fundraising begins for businesses

Thousands of pounds were handed out to businesses as they start their battle to prove whose entrepreneurship is the best all in the name of a good cause.

Some 50 businesses were each given a crisp £50 note and challenged to turn it into as much money for St Nicholas Hospice Care as possible.

The money giveaway, on Thursday, 15 June, which took place at Bury St Edmunds Audi in Skyliner Way, marked the launch of the Jacobs Allen Accumulator Challenge, in which firms battle it out for three months with the hope of being crowned overall winners.

Jacobs Allen Director, Sheila Burke, said “Everyone at Jacobs Allen is delighted to be continuing our sponsorship of the annual Accumulator Challenge in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care.

“After winning the Accumulator Challenge for three years we decided to continue our relationship with the Hospice by becoming the event’s sponsor so now we are here to offer our support to all the businesses taking part in a non-competitive environment.

“We are thrilled to be continuing with the JA Accumulator Challenge in aid of the charity. We are will all local businesses taking part the very best of luck in raising funds for such a worthy cause.

“There are several prizes up for grabs, not just the business who raises the most money but for most innovative idea, most motivated and more.

“The JA Accumulator Challenge is always great fun, as well as a fantastic team building event for the businesses involved. We’re all very excited to see how this year’s challenge progresses, and if competitors would like any impartial advice on their fundraising our door is always open.”

Last year challengers pulled out all the stops and raised more than £43,000 [£43,664.62] for the Hospice.

With the 2016 challenge winners Green Duck raising an impressive £6,101.97 the gauntlet has been thrown down and prizes, in categories including overall winner, most innovative idea and outstanding teamwork, given out at the end of the challenge are set to be hotly contested.

Mathew Green, Green Duck co-founder, said: “Last year the Green Duck team had a great time raising funds as part of the Accumulator Challenge. We had some entertaining events, with staff literally taking the plunge by completing skydives and of course Graham’s stint in a cardboard box – and we are looking forward to more of the same this year.

“We are really excited to be able to support the Hospice once again and we already have a few things up our sleeve for this year, our Golf Day is set to return in September and we are looking forward to perhaps joining forces with some of our fellow businesses to raise as much as we can for the Hospice.”