The Shropshire Star is handing out £2,500 to local companies and challenging them to make the money “grow” as part of a major new charity fundraising campaign.

The newspaper has teamed up with children’s hospices charity Hope House to launch a Corporate Challenge.

Fifty companies will each be given £50, and invited to use the money as a springboard for a host of fundraising activities.

Organisers hope firms will come up with innova-tive and imaginative ways of investing the money over the three-month challenge, helping to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the charity.

So far, 40 firms are signed up, and an appeal was issued today to help fill the final 10 places before the challenge kicks off on September 1.

Vanessa Thomas, Hope House’s fundraising manager for Shropshire and Powys, said: “The challenge is a high-profile fun project, an opportunity to build team spirit within your company and to network with other regional and local organisations who are taking part.

“How you spend the £50 is your choice – maybe you’ll buy ingredients for a huge cake bake and sale, or funny costumes to wear in a sponsored run up The Wrekin.”

Wellington-based Phillips Chartered Accountants was the first firm to sign up for the challenge. Director Neil Phillips said: “I think this is a great original idea and it deserves lots of support.”

• There’s still time to claim a place. Contact the hospice fund-raising office on 01691 671671 or e-mail Vanessa@hopehouse.org.uk