THE Worcestershire and Black Country professional services communities swapped their day jobs for a general knowledge test to raise more than £8000 for Freddie’s Wish, a charity set up to support families who have lost a child.

Organised by chartered accountants Price Pearson of Kidderminster, the annual fundraising quiz smashed its previous best total by £2500 and all the money will be put towards bereavement counselling, first aid training and supporting excellent causes, such as Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Midlands Air Ambulance.

More than 200 people attended the event in Wombourne, with accountants Griffiths & Pegg of Brierley Hill taking the honours. There was also a charity auction featuring a range of sporting memorabilia from Arsenal, Birmingham City, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and a special photo of the 1966 England world cup winning team.

Freddie's Wish founder Charlotte Joliffe, who founded the charity after losing her son in a car accident in December 2014, said: " This is one of the most successful events we’ve ever been part of and to raise so much money in one night is amazing. We were told to expect maybe £5000 and were gobsmacked. The total we believe is now over £8000.

“All the money we raise goes directly to a number of carefully selected organisations that will either help save a child’s life or will support families who unfortunately have to experience what we went through.”

Price Pearson of Kidderminster chose Freddie’s Wish as its Charity of the Year for 2016 after hearing about the tragic accident through a number of business contacts. The firm is planning additional events this year to supplement the £8000 raised at the quiz, including a number of employees jumping out of a plane as part of a sponsored skydive.