Kind-hearted businesses from Cheshire and North Wales have raised more than £20,000 for a local hospice.

Ellis & Co Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers joined 19 businesses to take part in The Hospice of the Good Shepard’s 30th Anniversary Corporate Challenge.

Each team had three months to turn a £50 starter fund into as much money as possible.

The team at Ellis & Co raised hundreds of pounds for the hospice by competing in the Chester Half Marathon and the Cheshire Triathlon; as well as holding a number of events in-house including an Easter themed chocolate extravaganza.

The final amount raised by the challenge was £21,958.45.

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd, based in Backford, provides support to patients and their families living with a life limiting illness.

The hospice provides specialist palliative care in a 10 bedded in patient ward, as well as complementary therapies in a new living well centre and bereavement counselling for adults and children.

Less than a third of the annual running costs of £4 million come from government funding, the remainder is generated through fundraising, donations, events and corporate partnerships.

A special awards evening was held at the hospice to announce the total money raised, and to award a number of businesses involved in the challenge.

Ellis & Co received the #ChesterCorporateChallengeAward in recognition of being ‘the most active and original at promoting their organisation, the Corporate Challenge and the work of the hospice on social media’.

“We are very proud to have played a part in raising this amazing amount of money,” said Natalie Tomlinson, PR & marketing manager at Ellis & Co.

“Thank you to all the team for getting involved and to everyone who donated.”

Abi Smith, corporate and major donor manager, added: “We are delighted the support we received from Ellis & Co through the Corporate Challenge, especially when we are both celebrating our 30th Anniversaries in 2019.

“Thank you to Natalie and all team at Ellis & Co.”