Groups have turned £1,500 into more than £23,000 in aid of St Helena Hospice as part of the annual £50 challenge.

East Anglian Daily Times: David Cant from Birkett Long and St Helena Hospice's CEO Mark Jarman-Howe gave out an award for raising money in the St Helena Hospice's �50 Challenge to Reeman Dansie's Jonathan Benson and Michelle Lloyd.David Cant from Birkett Long and St Helena Hospice's CEO Mark Jarman-Howe gave out an award for raising money in the St Helena Hospice's �50 Challenge to Reeman Dansie's Jonathan Benson and Michelle Lloyd. (Image: Archant)

A total of 30 businesses and other teams were each given £50 by law firm Birkett Long and had four months to use it to make as much money as possible.

Altogether the groups raised £23,656, bringing the total raised by the challenge since it began in 2012 to £155,185.

Their achievements were recognised at an awards ceremony at Le Talbooth, Dedham, on Wednesday evening.

Delphi Derivatives were named leading fundraiser, having generated £10,160, while Reeman Dansie auction house were given the most innovative award for putting left and donated items under the hammer.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ian Davidson, Sarah Harvey and Amy Nolan from Curry's (holding the award) received an award for raising money in the St Helena Hospice's �50 Challenge from the hospice's CEO Mark Jarman-Howe and David Cant from Birkett Long.Ian Davidson, Sarah Harvey and Amy Nolan from Curry's (holding the award) received an award for raising money in the St Helena Hospice's �50 Challenge from the hospice's CEO Mark Jarman-Howe and David Cant from Birkett Long. (Image: Archant)

Other awards included a connecting with the community title given to Perrywood for collecting vintage containers for flower displays to sell.

Currys/PC World were also recognised for their 100 days of fundraising drive, while Blowers held an unusual pamper day for children.

Helen Causer, head of fundraising at St Helena Hospice, said: “We would like to thank the teams who took part and helped raise this fantastic amount of money for the hospice.

“It has been great seeing the different creative ideas and events that each team came up with over the last few months.

“We’d like to pass on our thanks and congratulations to everyone involved, and we hope to see them again next year.”

David Cant, director of business development & marketing at Birkett Long, added: “It was magnificent to see so many local businesses coming together again for another year of raising money for such a fantastic local cause.”

How would you invest the £50 in order to make as much profit as possible?