CHARITIES across the region have benefitted from more than £6,000 generously raised by the BNI Durham and Teesside business network.

The organisation, which has been supporting business owners with online networking sessions throughout lockdown, managed to raise its highest sum for its member charities at an online annual awards gala.

Members would normally attend the gala as a black tie event at Hardwick Hall, but moving it online did not deter people from donating generously with raffle prizes and biding in an online auction.

My Sister’s Place, St Teresa's Hospice and Breathe Easy Darlington were among the charities to receive £600 each from the £6,600 raised.

Gill Sawdon, executive director of BNI Durham and Teesside, said: “We are pleased that during what has been a particularly challenging time for businesses, we’ve still managed to rally our members round and put on an online event, have an absolute ball and raise that amount.

“We have raised similar amounts for six or seven years now but this year it was the highest we had raised.”