Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation has reached its £100,000 fundraising target for its Charity of the Year, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), four months early.

At the beginning of the year the mutual began its fundraising challenge in aid of the RNLI, hoping with the help of its staff and members to raise £100,000 by the end of the year for the charity that saves lives at sea.

Now, the fundraising efforts of the staff within the Yorkshire Group and the support from customers and members of the public have meant that the Charitable Foundation reached its target four months ahead of schedule.

The £100,000 donation to the RNLI was made up the £50,000 raised by staff so far with Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation matching every penny raised and boosting the total to £100,000.

“I am absolutely thrilled that we have already been able to make a donation of £100,000 to the RNLI,” said Chris Pilling, chief executive of Yorkshire Building Society.

“Our people have worked hard throughout the year organising fundraising events from cycle rides, cake sales and raffles to Skydives – and we’re not done yet.

“We have another four months to keep going with our mission to raise as much money as possible for the RNLI and I hope customers and members of the public across the country will continue to show us their support.”

All funds raised by the Society’s staff and through the support of customers and members of the public will be used by the RNLI to train more of its vital volunteer lifeboat crew and lifeguards who are called to the rescue.

Catherine Kaye, corporate partnerships manager at the RNLI charity, added: “Staff in the branches and at head office have really engaged with the Come Rain or Shine Campaign to raise funds for training RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards, so much that they have exceeded their fundraising target well ahead of the year end.

“This is a fantastic bonus for our charity as we will now be able to fund essential training for more of our volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards so they can continue to save lives at sea as safely and effectively as possible.”