FANCY dress days and cake sales helped a York-based insurance company raise thousands of pounds for St Leonard’s Hospice.

Staff at Hiscox’s York office held a series of fundraising events for the charity, including entering two teams into the hospice’s It’s a Knock-Out tournament and taking part in the Yorkshire Marathon.

Their hard work paid off as they raised £7,000, which has been matched by the company’s central charity, the Hiscox Foundation.

Alan Millard, chief operating officer of Hiscox UK & Ireland, said: “Contributing to the local community is very important to us. We had a lot of fun doing a range of activities from charity bake-offs to dragon boat racing, and are incredibly proud to have raised more than £14,000 for St Leonard’s.”

Annie Keogh, the St Leonard’s community fundraiser, said: “We are really grateful to the Hiscox staff in York for all their efforts in raising such a great sum for the hospice.”