Employees at an Amersham firm have raised more than £50,000 to provide lifelong support to wounded, injured or sick service personnel and war veterans with a new health facility.

Staff at Amersham’s General Electric (GE) took part in a two-year fundraising project for Help for Heroes, contributing to a £350,000 company-wide target, with activities including charity bike rides, bake offs, Tough Mudder challenges and concerts.

Their efforts helped to build a GE wellbeing suite at the Help for Heroes Recovery Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire, which offers a range of activities and therapies for service personnel and war veterens, including yoga, Pilates, sleep clinics and nutrition workshops, as well as a designated quiet space for “individual practice and reflection”.

GE Healthcare in Amersham raised £50,868, smashing its initial £14,000 target, through a series of fundraising activities, including taking part in two Tough Mudder challenges in 2015 and 2016, a parachute jump and H4H’s Hero Ride cycling challenge.

Chris Hare, former estate manager at GE Healthcare, who recently retired, said: “Help for Heroes was an opportunity to support a national charity and it was a pleasure to give something back to those who have quietly and selflessly given so much for us.

“Having met some of the beneficiaries and heard them tell their stories just reinforced my commitment to see the Amersham site to do their bit and lead the way in the partnership.

“It has been a great journey and I’m eternally grateful to the company and my management team in allowing me to focus time and effort on this important initiative.

“Our staff have been absolutely wonderful in doing their bit, putting in so much time and physical effort.”

Mel Waters, Help for Heroes CEO, said: “I would like to thank all employees for their ongoing commitment to our Veterans and support for Help for Heroes.

“The value of physical activity in the maintenance of health, wellbeing and independence should not be underestimated, and promoting this continues to be at the very heart of what Help for Heroes does.

“The GE Wellbeing Suite is proving to be an excellent addition to Phoenix House, and is already helping our beneficiaries achieve their goals and aspirations, and supporting them so they can live independent and fulfilling lives.”