Treasure Hunt raises £2,300 for those in desperate need

Solicitors, accountants, tax advisers and web designers were among local business professionals who turned super sleuth to raise money for Leicester Charity Link.

Using their local knowledge, powers of observation and some lateral thinking the 19 teams competed in the Powrie Appleby Treasure Hunt held in aid of the charity.

The event, which cost £5 per person to enter, involved solving a series of intriguing clues and carrying out some rather unusual challenges while pounding the streets of Leicester.

Starting out from the Almanack pub in High Cross, the timed route took in a number of historic sites including the Town Hall, Guildhall, Cathedral, Leicester Market and High Street.

And as well as answering questions about the city’s rich heritage, competitors  also sought to outdo each other in quirkier tasks such as taking pictures of a dog with a pigeon on their mobile phones.

A team from New Walk law firm Harvey Ingram LLP emerged as the winner with Syston-based web designers Easytiger and Leicester solicitors Bray & Bray coming second. Easytiger’s team was awarded bonus points for choosing the option of wearing novelty headgear.

Leanne Hathaway, senior tax manager at Powrie Appleby and the event’s joint organiser, said the treasure hunt had really captured the imaginations of those taking part.

She added: “Many of us pass the places of interest highlighted on the  route map every day but rarely have time to stop and take notice. “A lot of our competitors said they found the event both fun and informative and thought it was a great way of helping a very worthwhile cause.”

Entrance fees and raffle money initially raised £460 for the charity but with every £10 donated attracting a further £50 from charitable trusts; the final total amounted to £2,300.

Susan McEniff, director of marketing and fundraising at Leicester Charity Link added: “This was a wonderful effort and we’d like to thank everyone who took part. We’re also grateful to The Case Wine Shop who donated the raffle prizes and Studio 68 for taking the photos for free.”

Leicester Charity Link helps tackle poverty in Leicester by providing local people who are in serious need with basic items such as a bed to sleep in and a cooker so they can make a hot meal.

Powrie Appleby based in New Street, Leicester is a regular supporter of its work and last year boosted the charity’s funds by holding a ‘Posh Pub Quiz’, also at The Alamanack.