After three months of frantic fundraising activity, the 44 competitive businesses battling to win the Towergate Accumulator Challenge have raised £21,711.57 for St Nicholas Hospice Care.

In June, each team taking part in the challenge was handed £50 by sponsors Towergate Insurance, which they were tasked with turning into as much money as possible for the hospice.

On Thursday the hospice revealed the grand total raised and which firms had won coveted prizes, at an awards evening at Ravenwood Hall Hotel, Rougham.

Paul Whittaker, of sponsors Towergate Insurance, said: “There are a number of reasons Towergate supports St Nicholas Hospice Care. One is we have a great deal of fun doing the Accumulator Challenge – that is the whole ethos behind the event.

“There is no doubt that the hospice is a wonderful organisation. We know that it needs to raise in excess of £10,000 a day. We also know it reaches a great number of people – not just people who are ill but all the people who are connected with the patients. The services the hospice runs are so important to the community, that I think anyone who can help it should do so.

“As well as being a great organisation the hospice is staffed by wonderful people who are passionate about what they do. In any organisation, where you get that level of passion it deserves to be supported by the community.”

Barbara Gale, chief executive of St Nicholas Hospice Care, said: “Thank you to all the people who have participated in the Accumulator Challenge. The hospice has such great support from the business community and we couldn’t do what we do without that support.

“At the hospice, we want to help people to live and have the best quality of life possible. That’s what we can do with the help of businesses and the community.”

The Community Award was presented by Kevin Clements to the business the judges felt involved the community and demonstrated the essence of community spirit.

Royal Mail Delivery Office, in Bury, was named the winner for its range of fundraising events, including a charity Zumba class; coffee morning and car boot sale.

The Judges Award, given to a firm which remained positive, motivated, engaged and driven throughout the challenge, was presented by Mr Whittaker, to Asda, of Bury. The Asda team arranged a variety of events and challenges, including a 24-hour exercise bike-a-thon; sponsored Body Combat session; cake sales and more.

Malcolm Leith, St Nicholas Hospice Care Trustee, presented the Outstanding Teamwork prize to Glasswells, of Bury. Fundraising initiatives organised by Glasswells, including a rock night and family fun day, involved every department from across the store.

Russell Cook, East Anglian Daily Times West Suffolk editor, presented the most innovative idea award to a business the judges felt was most creative with its £50. The title was won by the Arc shopping centre, which arranged for a Noah’s Arc petting zoo to visit the centre, raising £980.42.

He saidd: “We get a lot of fun out of seeing what everyone taking part in the Accumulator Challenge gets up to – it is a great campaign to get behind.”

The small business achievement award recognised the business which had put in a great deal of effort and raised a substantial amount, despite only having a small team. Alex Till, chief executive of Menta, presented the award to Baileys 2, of Bury, which raised £556 through a chilli challenge.

The top prize – most amount of money raised – was presented by Barbara Gale to the Coffee House, of Lawson Place, Bury. The Coffee House raised £2,800 by organising the first ever Moreton Hall Open Gardens event.

Lizzie Cross, hospice corporate fundraiser, said: “It’s been an incredible summer of fundraising and the hospice is delighted with the efforts of everyone who took part this year. The energy and enthusiasm has been inspiring.

“The hospice is lucky to be supported by so many businesses in West Suffolk and Thetford. The funds raised will help to ensure it can continue to support patients facing life-shortening illnesses and their families.”

Top 10 participants:

1 The Coffee House, Lawson Place, Bury: £2,800, raised through an open gardens event

2Asda, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds: £2,236, raised through events including cake stalls, Body Combat session, a 24-hour cycle and bucket collections

3 Royal Mail Delivery Office, Skyliner Way, Bury: £2,037, raised through events including a rounders match, coffee morning, car boot sale and Zumba party

4 CurveMotion, Lamdin Road, Bury: £1,802.50, raised through a three-hour Zumbathon

5 Jacobs Allen, of Bury and Haverhill: £1,300, raised through a casino evening and bucket collection in the arc shopping centre

6 Glasswells, Newmarket Road, Bury: £1,175, raised through events including a rock night, family fun day, bake-off, nearly new baby sweepstake, sale of bacon rolls

7 Towergate Insurance, Newmarket Road, Bury: £1,130, through sales of milkshakes, a bake-off and a Tour of the Town quiz

8 Steed and Steed, of Gainsborough Street, Sudbury: £1,100, raised through a raffle and fitness class

9 Arc shopping centre: £980.42, raised through a Noah’s Arc petting zoo, face painting and a tombola