Outsourced services specialists, Smart Solutions, has beaten its challenge of raising £21,000 for Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales during the course of the last year.

The team at Smart Solutions, which is based in Newport, pledged to raise £21,000 in 12 months to coincide with the Welsh children’s charity celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2014.

The firm managed to raise a total of £21,800 by hosting eight events over 12 months from July 2013, with its most recent fundraising effort, a family fun day duck race, raising almost £2,500 towards the final donation.

One thousand ducks were released into the Afon Lwyd River from Pontypool’s New Panteg rugby club, and in addition to the family sports day, a penalty shootout organised by the Cardiff Devils, a climbing wall was provided by Torfaen County Borough Council and entertainment from local bands added to the day’s festivities.

Other events which raised money over the course of the year included a Mad Hatters’ Ball, a sponsored 20-mile canoe trip on the Brecon and Monmouth Canal, silent auctions, rugby hospitality events and a cake bake.

Nathan Bowles, chief executive of Smart Solutions, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to hit, and exceed, our fundraising target for Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales.

“We’ve had a great year supporting Bobath with a variety of themed events taking place, which has seen members of staff from across Smart Solutions’ offices, as well as our clients and suppliers, get behind our campaign. Without this support, we would have not been able to achieve our ambitious target for such a worthwhile cause.”

Smart Solutions decided to raise money for the Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales after seeing the support and treatment the charity provided to one of their team members, Deb Vincent and her two-year-old son, Jack.

Jack contracted meningitis when he was just four weeks old and suffered a series of mini strokes, resulting in brain damage leading to a diagnosis of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy.

When Jack was seven months old his family was referred to the Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales by their consultant paediatrician, and the charity provided specialist physiotherapy and speech and language therapy to help Jack improve his core strength and oral skills.

Gail Griffiths, head of fundraising and retail at Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales, said: “Fundraising is not an easy task, it takes a lot of time to plan engaging events, as well as commitment and dedication to ensure that these events and initiatives are successful.

“Smart Solutions has raised an incredible amount of money for Bobath, and we’re extremely grateful to Nathan and his team for their hard work. Without the support of our fundraising partners we would not be able to provide treatment to children, like Jack, who so desperately need it.”

The Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales provides specialist therapy to children across Wales who have cerebral palsy. The charity treats nearly 500 children in Wales and needs to raise over £1m every year to make this possible.