A GRUELLING 798-step run up Manchester's tallest building has raised over £4,000 for charity.

The sponsored run up the 47-storey Beetham Tower kicked-off the 2018 charity fundraising campaign for Old Trafford-based audio tech company PHMG.

The company is aiming to raise at least £100,000 for the second year running, after a record-breaking 2017 saw employees donate more than £114,000 to numerous causes through its official charity, the PHMG Foundation.

Last year's impressive fundraising total was reached after employees raised more than £64,000 through a variety of initiatives, before the PHMG board contributed a further £50,000 donation.

The board of the company has once more pledged to donate £50,000 in 2018, if staff meet their own £50,000 target.

Activity for this year has already got off to a flying start with Mark Williamson, Sales and Marketing Director at PHMG, and Michael Nipper, Head of Client Services, taking on the Christie Tower Climb, running up Manchester's tallest tower.

The two raised a huge £4,160 for The Christie Hospital with their charitable feat.

“Smashing our fundraising record is a testament to the great determination and generosity of our employees,” said Chris Berisford, Finance Director at PHMG and PHMG Foundation Trustee.

“Staff knew the target in 2017 was the toughest we’d ever had in the history of the PHMG Foundation but everyone rose to the challenge and upped their game to make sure it was met."

He added: "We are confident this year will be just as successful.”

Employees reached their 2017 target through a wide range of events, which included climbing Snowdon by Moonlight, a Santa Dash and a Manchester to Blackpool 60-mile bike ride.

Money raised from these efforts was distributed among a number of charities, including the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Elmy’s Special Society, St Clare Hospice and Toronto Human Society.

Charities that will benefit from fundraising in 2018 are the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Action for Children and SOS Children’s Village Illinois.

The charity has raised a running total of £274,000 for local charities since it was established in 2013.