Hundreds of Softcat staff from regional offices across the UK made a heroic effort for Comic Relief, dressing as superheroes and cartoon characters and participating in various fundraising activities, raising over £10,000 for poor and disadvantaged people in the UK and the world's poorest countries.
Sporting activities included bike and golfing challenges, a dance competition and a crossbar challenge. More relaxed fundraisers included a charity retro gaming competition and a FIFA competition, where staff flaunted their gaming prowess.
Staff also raised cash by nominating people for a dunking - in ice-cold water. The dunk tank was filled by Marlow Fire Brigade.
A raffle raised £7,000 for Comic Relief, with raffle prizes including iPads, signed Arsenal FC shirts, an extra day's holiday, and a shopping experience with sales director Matt Jones. Prizes were donated by Softcat's staff and business partners. Softcat's Red Nose Day antics were filmed by US TV channel NBC.
On Friday evening many Softcat staff stayed late to help operate as a call centre for Comic Relief, helping to take thousands of pledges from generous donors across the UK. Softcat partners Dell, Snow Software and Trend Micro all stepped in to take part and keep the volunteers fed and watered.
Charles Harman and Michael Walker organised the day of fundraising and the call centre.
Harman said: "Softcat staff always come out all guns blazing for fundraising days and Friday's event was no different - the office was packed with cartoon characters and superheroes and everyone got really involved in all the fundraising activities."
To date Softcat has raised over £1.2m for various causes. Its next charity event will be its annual May Ball which last year raised £250,000 for charity Dreams Come True.