Race is on for businesses in cash pledge

And they're off . . . 50 Shropshire companies have each been presented with £50 and challenged to turn the cash into something more valuable for one of the county's leading charities.

The Hope House/Shropshire Star Corporate Challenge was officially launched yesterday afternoon at the newspaper's headquarters in Waterloo Road, Ketley, Telford.

In return for receiving the cash, each company has pledged to use it as a springboard for a host of fundraising activities between now and the end of November.

Organisers hope businesses will come up with innovative and imaginative ways of investing the money over the three-month challenge period, helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds.

Vanessa Thomas, Hope House's fundraising manager for Shropshire and Powys, said: "The Shropshire Star has provided each business with a crisp £50 note – now the race begins to grow that amount by as much as is legally and ethically possible in 90 days over September, October and November.

"The Challenge is a high-profile fun project, an opportunity to build team spirit within your company and to network with other regional and local organisations who are taking part. How the companies spend the £50 is their choice – maybe they will buy funny costumes to wear in a sponsored run.

"The money raised will be guaranteed to help one of the region's most worthwhile charities."

Sarah-Jane Smith, editor of the Shropshire Star, said: "Hope House Children's Hospices have a dream – to continue being a lifeline to terminally ill local children, their brothers, sisters and families, helping them to find the best way down the hardest path. We are delighted so many local businesses have signed up for the challenge, which can help make this dream a reality."

Sarah Cox, from Shrewsbury, helped to launch the challenge with 13-year-old son Simon, who has visited Hope House since he was 18 months old, and her nine-year-old daughter Rachel.

By Carl Jones