Yorkshire Building Society has made a record donation of £175,000 to its first Charity of the Year, Alzheimer’s Society.

Throughout 2011 all Yorkshire, Barnsley and Chelsea building society staff and members pledged to raise money for the first Charity of the Year. Staff across the country took part in a range of fundraising activities including raffles, sponsored runs and cycles, book sales, sponsored leg waxing and bungee jumps.

Former Chief Executive, Iain Cornish, who left the Society at the end of 2011, personally completed a sponsored cycle between the Bradford head office and the Chelsea Building Society’s head office in Cheltenham – covering over 170 miles. This raised almost £11,000 – the highest amount raised in one individual fundraising event throughout the year.

Staff and members raised £85,469 through their fundraising events with the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation matching every penny raised, sending the total donation soaring up to £175,000, beating their original fundraising target.

Chris Parrish, a Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation trustee said: “I am absolutely delighted with the amount staff have raised for our Charity of the Year. I am extremely proud of the effort and dedication they have shown in raising the largest amount ever in the Society’s history. We couldn’t have raised this fantastic amount without the help and support of our customers in purchasing raffle tickets and sponsoring members of staff