AN AUDIO branding specialist has raised more than £500,000 for charity in just six years by taking part in activities including skydiving, abseiling and climbing mountains.

Old Trafford-based PHMG launched the PHMG Foundation to raise money for charities through company-wide activities in 2013 and crossed the £500,000 mark in January.

Charitable organisations are selected by staff on an annual basis and more than 70 charities have benefited so far.

Last year, employees smashed their annual target, raising more than £57,000 through events such as marathons, mountain climbs and global Santa dashes. As staff met their £50,000 goal, the company made an additional donation, taking the total to more than £107,000 which was split between the Red Cross, Action for Children, Salvation Army and SOS Children’s Villages Illinois.

“Surpassing the £500,000 milestone is a huge testament of the enthusiasm, commitment and generosity of our staff ­— each and every one of them has been absolutely incredible over the last few years,” said Chris Berisford, Finance Director at PHMG and PHMG Foundation Trustee.

“They’ve had to endure some tough activities but knowing they were helping such worthwhile causes kept them going. They’re delighted to have been able to make such a difference to people’s lives through our chosen charities.

“We’ve now set our sights on the £1 million mark ­— something we never thought we would say.”

In 2019, PHMG’s chosen charities are Mind, Cancer Research UK, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois and the Red Cross. If employees beat last year’s total, the company will once again donate £50,000.

Since the start of the year, PHMG staff have raised almost £10,000 through events such as the Beetham Tower climb, a coffee morning and a coin drive on World Cancer Day. Future activities include the Great Manchester Run, Gung-Ho, a sky dive, golf day and volunteering at the Manchester Marathon.

Other activities over the years have included abseiling down the Trafford Centre Bell Tower, a reverse bungee jump, visiting all 92 Football League grounds (in 2016) in under 92 hours and a six-month lift ban at PHMG’s 12-storey headquarters.