Our annual corporate cycling challenge – Prosperity Day – has set a new fundraising record for local charities with over £21,000 raised for the British Heart Foundation Jersey Appeal and Jersey Cheshire Home thanks to the incredible efforts of the 15 teams taking part.
The event involves corporate teams racing against each other, tackling a simulated tough stage of the Tour de France in an especially erected hi-tech marquee set up in Broad Street. However, success is not judged by cycling prowess alone as fundraising is a key element of the final calculations. The 2018 winners were Fitness First.
This year a total of £21,247.00 was shared equally between the British Heart Foundation Jersey and Jersey Cheshire Home. In just four years, Prosperity Day has raised £71,946.00 which has been distributed to a variety of charities across the Channel Islands.
Chris Clark, CEO of Prosperity 24.7 was overjoyed “This year we have exceeded any previous sum raised in a single year. It is simply exceptional to see both the passionate participation on Prosperity Day as well as the most important outcome, the fund raising activity. This year has seen an incredible sum of money raised which will provide vital support to two essential local charities. Every year our event achieves increased backing enabling us, in turn, to offer growing support to our broader community, helping us all to prosper,” he said.
The British Heart Foundation funds ground-breaking research into heart disease and the Jersey branch won the charity’s south-east region award for Fundraising Group of the Year 2017
BHF Jersey chairman Haydn Taylor said: “The money raised from Prosperity Day supports the life-saving work of the British Heart Foundation. Our mission is to support the research of the British Heart Foundation so that more Islanders can beat heart disease. The exposure to corporate organisations that events such as this provide is critical in raising ongoing awareness that every heart beat matters.”
Jersey Cheshire Home general manager David Lord said that the funds will support the charity’s £2 million Big Build project to extend and refurbish the home that cares for some of Jersey’s most physically disabled Islanders.
“Every pound raised from Prosperity Day will support the essential work of our Big Build campaign. The work is progressing well and events such as Prosperity Day enable us to continue to deliver critical services to a broad spectrum of the community every single day. The Big Build campaign is our biggest project to date, enabling us to increase the number of residents we can accommodate,” he said.
David advised that “the charity has been caring for physically disabled adults at Eric Young House for 35 years this month and during that time the demand for services has steadily grown. Increasing the number of individuals we can support will not only benefit the Island’s community but will also enable us to upgrade those areas of the Home in need of modernisation.”
Chris Clark added: “Our colleagues support a variety of charities throughout the year but Prosperity Day is where we get to pull together with incredible local businesses, it provides an event which is not only entertaining for those participating (or watching) but is an incredible day with a real purpose.
I must wholeheartedly thank our colleagues at Prosperity, all the participating teams, the supporting companies as well as the phenomenal charities whom we are fortunate to be able to support. Prosperity Day is a real team effort and I hope that next year, somehow, we can make it even better for two more great local charities.”
The team from the British Heart Foundation Jersey Appeal receiving their cheque:
The team from Jersey Cheshire Home receiving their cheque:
