Regional accountancy firm Bishop Fleming has reached its 2019 charity fundraising target of £100,000 with half the year still to go.
At the beginning of this year the firm, which has one of its seven offices in Bath, pledged to raise £100,000 to mark its centenary.
Employees and clients took the challenge to heart – so much so that after outstanding fundraising activities by in the first half of 2019, the target has already been smashed and more than 2,500 donations have been made, benefitting over 60 charities. 
In March the firm sponsored the Bath Half Marathon, entering 120 staff and clients, pictured right, and becoming the largest corporate team to enter in the history of the race.
More recently, a 30-strong team completed the Three Peaks Challenge, pictured below, raising more than £25,000. Another team of five walked 100 miles from Wales to the firm’s Worcester office.
Individual challenges have also taken place across the firm. Partner Joe Scaife took on the challenge of a 100-mile ultramarathon, tax senior Bradley Chamness-Soper performed 5,000 push-ups in 10-hours, assistant Leoni Sterling completed a skydive, and senior Harriet Reynolds shaved her head for Macmillan. 
Bishop Fleming marketing director and co-lead for corporate social responsibility Paul Seymour said: “Our fundraising campaign has surpassed all of our expectations. To achieve our target halfway through is simply incredible, but it is the way these activities have brought people from all seven offices together, which is the most rewarding.
“To be as inclusive as possible, we’ve allowed our people to raise funds for causes that are personal to them and as a result, our £100,000 will benefit 60 charities, and our people have volunteered over 1,000 hours of their time.”
Managing partner Andrew Sandiford added: “Our centenary is not simply about a birthday or looking backwards, but rather an opportunity to position our business for the future.
“It is proof that strong relationship delivers remarkable results, and this has been shown through smashing our fundraising target only halfway through.”
The firm will now focus on more activities, client events and projects over the next six months to bring in more charity funds.
As well as Bath, Bishop Fleming also has offices in Bristol, Truro, Plymouth, Torquay, Exeter and Worcester.
