Close Brothers Motor Finance employees have raised £31,000 for the NSPCC and Cancer Research UK by completeing a series of grueling challenges for charity.

The team at the South Yorkshire-based finance specialist completed a Snowdon climb, a 200-mile bike ride, 20 mile relay, 10km Pretty Muddy race, auctions and bake sales as part of their fund-raising bid and succeeded in amassing £30,823 for the two good causes.

Bury and Peterborough branches rose to the challenge with the Snowdon climb, which raised £3,000, while the Sheffield, Southampton and Stoke branches continued the active theme with their own sponsored challenges.

The Doncaster head office team completed a 10km Pretty Muddy race and finished the week with an inter-team rounders match.

Rebecca McNeil, chief executive of Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “I’m so impressed and proud of all those who took part in the charity initiatives to raise funds for two extremely important charities.

“To see our employees from branches across the UK taking part and giving back to local and national projects demonstrates our commitment to supporting those in need.”

Close Brothers staff also showed a desire to help their local communities during their year of fund-raising activity.

The business’ Scottish branch raised money through building a barn on a local farm, while the Welsh branch were sponsored to complete a beach clean-up along the Welsh Peninsula.

The money raised for the NSPCC will go towards its services to help fight child abuse, such as its Speak Out Stay Safe service which teaches children how to spot the signs of abuse and who to go to for help if they ever need it.

The money raised for Cancer Research UK will go towards supporting their scientists to ignite their ground-breaking research, supporting researchers to learn more about cancer cells, the purchase of next generation DNA experiment and training PhD and research students. 

All the work conducted by CRUK is funded solely by donations, so all contributions make a huge difference.