After the amazing success of our innovative two-year Charity Of The Year partnership with Deloitte and Leukaemia Research, the firm took the unique step of extending the relationship for a further year, up to December 2007. The BHF worked closely with Deloitte's Community Investment Team to coordinate key fundraising activities including the London Marathon, the London to Brighton Bike Ride, and the JP Morgan Challenge. Deloitte appointed Charity Champions, who used their departmental connections to organise activities and motivate staff to get involved.

Almost a quarter of the 11,500-strong UK workforce participate in payroll giving. The firm makes a huge commitment by pledging up to 40% of each £100 raised per staff member per month. They also hold a monthly FLY4CHARITY draw, encouraging people to sign up and stay involved. And for the second year running, the firm has earned a prestigious Gold Award presented by HM Treasury in recognition of the scheme's success. David George explains: "All the hard work's done for you, there's a tax advantage through Gift Aid and the matched funding is a great boost for the charity. I was lucky enough to win FLY4CHARITY and experienced the holiday of a lifetime in Rio de Janeiro."

The annual JP Morgan Challenge attracted 1,000 Deloitte runners who raised £50,000 for our vital work. Overall, the firm sailed through their original fundraising target of £250,000 each year, raising over £1.1 million for the BHF during the three-year partnership, raising funds towards an MRI scanner, catheter lab and 30 life-saving community defibrillators. In 2007 alone, they raised nearly £350,000 to fund more BHF Paediatric Cardiac Liaison Nurses.

Large companies like Deloitte make a tremendous difference to the fight against heart disease. To find out more about a mutually beneficial partnership, please email our Corporate Partnerships Team at partners@bhf.org.uk