Fundraisers help challenge reach target

FUNDraising efforts on air and land helped the Lovewell Blake 150 Challenge reach its target three months before the end of the firm's anniversary year.

Staff and partners at the firm of chartered accountants are seeking to raise £150,000 over five years to commemorate its founding in Great Yarmouth in 1858.

Lovewell Blake is reputed to be the oldest firm of accountants retaining its original name and pre-dates accountancy's professional bodies.

The firm is holding an anniversary dinner at the Imperial Hotel on Thursday, attended by the Bishop of Norwich and clients who have been with the firm for more than 50 years - adding up to almost 1,500 years.

Staff, contributing through the give-as-you-earn scheme, devised a series of sponsored activities to raise £10,000, with partners' donations

and matched funding increasing the total so far

to well over £30,000.

“It's a fantastic achievement to reach our initial target so soon,” said Christopher Dicker, senior partner at the Yarmouth office.

“We're delighted with the response from our staff and very encouraged that so many are supporting the idea of raising money for local charities and community projects.

“Our challenge now will be to maintain this great momentum over the next four years.”

All the funds are being channelled through the Norfolk Community Found-ation, which identifies local groups in need of help and manages the donation process, but Lovewell Blake staff have the final say on who benefits.

The second meeting of the grants panel this month awarded £13,626 to nine organisations, taking this year's total to more than £21,000. Yarmouth office staff have been among those making a sterling contrib-ution to the fundraising.

Anne Manning was one of 12 colleagues taking part in a tandem skydrive.

And Saxon Moseley completed a walk across Wales, covering more than 50 miles in a time of 22 hours

50 minutes.