A SPECIAL awards night celebrated the achievements of teams who took part in a challenge in aid of York's St Leonard’s Hospice, which raised more than £21,000 for the charity.

Fifteen teams took part in the month-long Accumulator Challenge. They were given an initial loan of £30 and challenged to raise as much additional cash as possible.

The overall winning team was the hosts of the awards ceremony, York Marriott Hotel, with an impressive total of £6,880; the largest amount raised by any team since the first Hospice Accumulator Challenge in 2016.

In second place was the York College Travel and Tourism Students who raised £3,264 and third was Grand Old Uke of York who raised £2,501.

The Innovation and Inclusion Award was chosen by Annie Keogh, corporate fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice and organiser of the challenge. The award went to Vangarde Shopping Park.

The award for best overall team member was voted for by everyone on the night and went to Paul Cross from the Principal York.

The other teams were Middletons Hotel, Riverside Farm, Scott’s Fish and Chips, Strensall Day Care Centre, Tesco (Selby), Tesco (Askham Bar York), Doubletree by Hilton, One Stop (Acomb Road), The Insurance Emporium and Minster FM.

The overall total raised for St Leonard’s Hospice was a whopping £21,345. Since the first challenge of its sort in 2016 teams have raised more than £72,000 towards patient care.

Annie said: “A huge thank you to all the teams who took part. We are so impressed, not only with the amounts raised, but also the variety of fundraising ideas and methods used and fantastic team work and community spirit.

"Thank you to our sponsors, the businesses and individuals in the teams and all in the local community who have supported the challenge in any way.”