A FINANCE group has given a bumper boost to Manorlands.

Staff at Reward, which provides funds to small and medium-sized enterprises, have proved they can also do their bit for charity.

They staged a series of activities – including runs, bake sales, quizzes and dressing-up – in aid of the Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice.

The team set itself a £5,000 target but smashed it, coining-in £9,000.

And that was match-funded by the Leeds and Manchester-based company.

Manorlands was chosen as the beneficiary after being nominated by Karen Paige, a Reward portfolio manager, who in recent years has witnessed personally the care provided at the hospice.

She said: "I have total admiration for the work carried out by the team at Manorlands and the wonderful care given to those who are suffering from such devastating illnesses.

"We have a wonderful team at Reward, which was really keen to get behind the fundraising efforts when I told colleagues about my own experiences of this amazing place.

"We've had great fun raising the money over the last year and it is really generous of the company to match our incredible total."

Tribute is paid by Andrew Wood, senior community fundraiser at Manorlands.

He said: "We have so many wonderful supporters, many of whom have lost loved ones whose lives have been cut short through cancer, heart failure or lung disease.

"Like Karen, people have witnessed the care we provide and want to continue to support us after their loss.

"Their generosity is wonderful and without them we could not operate.

"Literally every penny counts, so whether it is a small amount or a significant one – like the donation from Reward – it all helps towards the care of loved ones and friends.

"All our care services are completely free of charge to patients and their families. However it costs £3.2 million to run the hospice and only part of these costs are covered by statutory funds. This year we need to raise £2.1m in donations to continue to provide our specialist care services."

Some of the things the £18,000 from Reward could fund include 16 syringe drivers to provide constant symptom relief for patients, five specialist beds, 300 bereavement counselling sessions or a hospice nurse for 128 days.

Manorlands supports patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families at the hospice and in the community, across an area covering Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale as well as parts of Bradford.