A BINGLEY-based company celebrated its 50th anniversary in style by raising more than £61,000 for a heart charity.

Emerald Group Publishing, based in Howard House, Wagon Lane, raised the superb total for Heart Research UK, after originally aiming to reach £50,000.

The cash came from events including £28,000 raised by more than 80 people who took part in a trek of the Yorkshire Peaks.

Other fundraising events carried out by the firm’s staff during 2017 included car washes, bake sales and a 24-hour DJ marathon.

All departments at Emerald got behind the cause, and the friendly competition of a department fundraising leader board, ensured the initiative was a big success.

Heart Research UK was chosen as Emerald’s primary charity last year, partly due to both celebrating their 50th anniversaries in 2017.

The money raised will go to help the novel and emerging technologies grant. This research project, by the University of Leicester, aims to develop a simple, accurate and cost-effective test to predict which patients are at risk of sudden cardiac death and whose lives could be saved with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Sara Price, chairman of Emerald’s charity committee, said: “Compared to previous years, this was by far the biggest target, but everyone got involved and really put in the extra effort to reach our goal.

“The highlight event for me was the Yorkshire Peaks challenge.

“In May, a team of more than 80 participants took on the trek, climbing a combination of, and in some cases all three, of the Yorkshire Peaks. Although it was a tough day, this event alone raised an impressive £28,000 for Heart Research UK, giving us a strong boost towards our grand total.”

The tie-up between Emerald and the Yorkshire-based charity began in January 2014.

Heart Research UK tweeted its thanks to the company for its year-long fundraising efforts. It said: “Thank you so much for this incredible amount that you raised for @heartresearchuk smashing your £50k target! #welldone to everyone that took part in your various fundraising activities and to your wonderful charity committee for organising them all.”

The fundraising was part of an action-packed 2017 for the company, which also included new product launches, education initiatives and global celebrations with its customers and communities.

The Emerald Group acquired the naming rights to Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Headingley ground in November last year.

The deal is in conjunction with Leeds Rhinos and is understood to be worth £10 million over the next ten years and includes the naming rights for the new North/South Stand upon completion in 2019.

Headingley was renamed Emerald Headingley Stadium as part of the deal.

Emerald Publishing was founded by chairman Dr Keith Howard in 1967 to champion new ideas that would advance the research and practice of business and management.

The company publishes more than 300 journals, more than 2,500 books and more than 1,500 case studies.

Heart Research UK, also set up in 1967, has funded more than £22.6m on medical research in hospitals and universities across the UK. It has also spent £1.7m on innovative community-based lifestyle projects.