Investment platform and title partner for World Triathlon Leeds, AJ Bell, has gifted £10,000 from its Wage War on COVID fund to Leeds Cares, the charity for Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
Following the postponement of AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds 2020, a virtual event was set up with over 5,500 people taking part in the cycling and running challenge through which they could donate to Leeds Cares.
With £10,290 raised by entrants and £10,000 contributed by Salford-based AJ Bell, Leeds Cares will be able to continue providing care packages to local NHS staff as well as fund items and services over and above what the NHS can.
AJ Bell’s ‘Wage War on COVID’ fund was set up to help charities and causes that directly benefit people who have been adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
AJ Bell staff donated all or part of their wages for April, May and June to the fund which was boosted further by donations from AJ Bell customers and members of the public. So far over £300,000 has been raised for charitable causes supporting the Covid-19 efforts.
Other initiatives that have been supported by the fund include 600 digital tablets sent to care homes & hospitals around the UK to connect patients to loved-ones during lockdown, as well as donations to food banks via FareShare and Salford CVS. In total over 30 charities have benefited from the fund so far.
Billy Mackay, marketing director at AJ Bell, said: “The AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds Virtual Challenge saw adults and children raise money for Leeds Cares from their homes which is a fantastic effort. We were happy to double the total raised to £20,000 through the Wage War on COVID campaign to help the brilliant NHS staff in Leeds.”
Wayne Coyle, Event Director of AJ Bell World Triathlon Leeds, said: “We have been blown away by the generosity of our participants of the Virtual Challenge and for AJ Bell to raise this to over £20,000 is incredible. I know that this donation will be valuable for Leeds Cares and they will continue to support the hospitals across the city.”
