Staff from across regional accountancy firm Bishop Fleming’s seven offices, including Bristol, have raised more than £30,000 for charity by taking part in the Bath Half Marathon.
More than 100 Bishop Fleming employees completed the course while the firm was also the official title sponsor of the annual event, which took place on Sunday and attracted 12,000 runners. 
Now in its 20th year, the race is one of the longest established and most popular city centre road events in the UK, taking in a two-lap 13.1-mile (21.1km) traffic-free course straddling both sides of the River Avon. It is also the South West’s largest fundraising event.
With some 120 Bishop Fleming staff crossing the finishing line – the largest number of participations by a corporate partner in the event’s history – the firm also used the race as the first step on a year-long fundraising spree to coincide with its centenary.
It is also giving away £2,000 by helping 20 Bath Half runners with their fundraising efforts. Participants had the chance to win £100 for their chosen charity through a social media competition launched on the race day.
Bishop Fleming has a target of collecting a total of £100,000 for a number of regional charities this year by encouraging its staff to take part in a range of sporting and other activities.
Managing partner Andrew Sandiford said: “We were delighted to be title sponsor of this year’s Bath Half in our centenary year. It has been a magnificent event and I’d like to congratulate all runners who have taken part.
“Our own team raised over £30,000, which is a fantastic start to our overall ambition of raising £100,000 this year.”
Sunday’s Bath Half, which was staged by Bath-based Running High Events, was started by Bishop Fleming chair Ian Smith.
Bishop Fleming has the largest of its seven offices in Bristol. The firm employs 29 partners and more than 340 staff across its seven offices in the South West and West Midlands.
Pictured, top: Bishop Fleming Bristol staff before the race. From left: Ria Burridge, Charlotte Wass, Ffion Baker, Catherine Millar, Sophie Porter and Rebecca Branch. Bottom: The Bishop Fleming runners at the start line
