Wesleyan, the Birmingham-based financial mutual, has surpassed the £250,000 target it set for its chosen charity Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The financial services provider, which advises doctors, dentists, lawyers and teachers, began raising money to support the hospital in January 2013.

The appeal captured the imagination of staff at Wesleyan’s head office and in its sales teams around the country and saw it more than double its original target. It has now pledged to extend the partnership until the end of 2016.

Wesleyan’s £250,000 donation has helped the hospital to achieve its £4 million target for a new Children’s Cancer Centre.

Elinor Eustace, corporate partnerships manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said: “Wesleyan is our largest corporate supporter and for it to raise such a large amount of money in such a short space of time is a fantastic achievement.

“To know we have its support for another two years is great news and will make a huge difference to the lives of our brave children and their families as we continue our plans to improve our facilities – enabling us to treat even more children from the West Midlands and around the country.”

Liz McKenzie, Wesleyan’s group corporate services director and chair of its Charity Advisory Committee, said: “This £250,000 is the largest amount Wesleyan has ever raised for one of its chosen charities.

“Our staff have given both their time and their money generously over the past two years, getting involved in a whole range of activities, from abseiling down our head office building to giving up Christmas Day to deliver presents to the children in hospital.

“Those who have visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital to see where their donations have been spent have been really moved by the experience and it has spurred them on to do even more.

“We can’t wait to start our next round of fundraising activities and have big plans for the years ahead.”

Anyone wanting to support Wesleyan’s appeal for Birmingham Children’s Hospital can make a donation online at www.justgiving.com/Wesleyan-BCH.