NEWPORT accountancy firm Phil Bessant Ltd has restated its aims to double the amount it plans to raise for St David’s Hospice Care after a visit to one of its centres in Newport.

Phil Bessant headed staff on a tour of St David’s Hospice Care’s day centre at Malpas, Newport.

The accountants have set themselves a target of raising £50,000 over five years for St David’s Hospice Care. The firm hope to have raised half of that total, £25,000, by the end of December this year.

Phil Bessant, MD of the practice, said: “We’ve made a commitment to raise £50,000 for St David’s Hospice Care. Everyone in the business has done their bit to help us to reach the half way mark of that total. It was good to be invited to visit the day hospice in Malpas and to get a feel for the fantastic work the charity does and which we, in our small way, are helping to fund.”

The accountancy firm of Caerau Road, Newport, adopted St David’s Hospice Care as its charity of the year with the initial aim to raise £5,000. The practice has since completed a wide range of events to raise funds.

The firm recently held a golf day, a race night & cheese & wine evening at the Fugitives Cricket Club in Rogerstone, took part in Pretty Muddy and staged a Black Tie Dinner awards evening at the Glan Yr Afon Hotel, Usk and will stage a Beaujolais Day in Blaenavon this month.

Staff member Rebecca Elkins even let the fund raising really go to her head by raising £1,250 through having 15 inches lopped from her hair which hadn’t been cut for six years.

Inspired by the television show ‘The Apprentice’ the next challenge Phil Bessant Accountants have set themselves is a Pop-up Christmas Shop in Skinner Street Newport on Tuesday, December 20 and they need your help!

Not only are they looking for items to sell in the shop but they are looking for support on the day as they are looking to have a fun-packed day with the following activities: Santa’s grotto, photobooth and carol concert at 4pm in Westgate Square with charity collection.

If you would like to donate items for the shop, please call 01633 851043. Items such as: bric-a-brac, furniture, children’s games etc

Kris Broome, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “Phil Bessant and his marvellous staff have worked tirelessly over the months in their efforts to raise money for St David’s Hospice Care in so many different ways. We’re really very grateful. We were delighted to host them for a visit at St David’s Hospice Care in Malpas and to give them an idea of the kind of work we do for free in the community.”