Staff have vowed to raise a pallet stacked high with cash for a children’s charity during a year of fundraising.

Employees of the P&A Group of companies gathered at the firm’s sites in Mold and Saltney to hear managing director Steve Morgan announce that Hope House Children’s Hospices had won a staff vote to be named the companies dedicated charity for the next 12 months.

Speaking at the firm’s Woodworks Garden Centre and Cafe in Mold Mr Morgan said: “I’m thrilled we are going to supporting Hope House Children’s Hospices. We have five divisions within the P&A Group and employ 170 permanent staff plus seasonal workers.

“We will now work hard to raise as much as we possibly can for what is a very deserving cause over the next 12 months. We don’t wish to put a target figure on what we aim to raise. However, we generally raise around £10,000 over 12 months for our dedicated annual charity.

“I know our fantastic employees will put everything they can into raising as much money as they can for Hope House Hospices whether by running marathons, sponsored silences, cakes sales or parachute jumps.”

The P&A Group of companies fundraising efforts has the backing of the High Sheriff of Clwyd nominee Stephanie Catterall who is due begin her year in office in March.

Mrs Catterall, of Nercwys, dropped in to join staff, employees and Hope House Hospice fundraisers to help celebrate the launch of the fundraising year.

She said: “The focus of my year in office will be on volunteering so anything I can do to help and support businesses such as the P&A Group I will do.”

P&A Group of Companies finance director Andrew Baker, of Rhos-on-Sea has already set himself a challenge – to run more than 1,600 miles in the next year while raising money for Hope House.

He said: “I enjoy running and have already completed six marathons to date - Manchester three times, Chester, London and Leicester. This year I’m doing Manchester again and York. However, my plan is to run a half marathon or 10K every month too.

“Add to that to the 40 or so miles I do training every week and I’m hopeful of hitting the 1,600 mile mark in a year.”

Nicola Sciarrillo, Hope House area fundraiser said: “We must continue to raise funds to support local children and families when they need us most. No one should suffer the death of a child alone.

“Sadly, three local children die each week, currently Hope House can only afford to help one of these families. We are committed to changing this and with the support of P&A staff we will be a step further to doing so.”