Company dares to care

7:53am Sunday 9th March 2008

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Caring staff at a Watford-based company are hoping to make life better for severely disabled children and people with spinal cord injuries after raising funds for two charities.

Staff at ACI Worldwide, a financial software company, based in Clarendon Road, raised more than £1,500, which will be matched by the company, and split between national disabled children's charity BDF Newlife and Aspire - which works with people with spinal cord injuries and is based at Stanmore Orthopaedic Hospital.

The company chose BDF Newlife as one of the beneficiaries after it funded a vitally needed specialist bed for the daughter of an employee.

Staff raised the money through a series of novel fundraising ideas, including guessing who colleagues were from their distorted photos and finding out little known facts about them.

Customer manager Graham Kinch, who started the fundraising, said: "BDF Newlife does excellent work in helping disabled children born with birth defects while Aspire creates opportunity, choice and independence for people with spinal cord injuries. We wanted to help in any way we could."

Sheila Brown, Chief Executive of BDF Newlife, said: "Supporters like ACI Worldwide are vital in helping us raise funds and in turn help babies, children and families affected by birth defects."

BDF Newlife is the UK's leading child health charity specialising in research and support to aid those affected by inborn conditions, otherwise known as birth defects. In addition to funding research, the charity also offers support services operated by specially trained nurses.