August Update: A Different Kind of Challenge
Our first couple of blogs have focused on tax, business and the latest updates affecting our clients — but this month, we’re doing something a little different and sharing a more personal update from the Peregrine team.
Our Director, Sophie, has committed to running the 2027 London Marathon for the Heart Research UK, a charity with a very special connection to Peregrine. Putting it into writing for everyone to see is slightly terrifying, but that is partly the idea — now it’s public, there really is no backing out!
❤️ A cause very close to home
Just a few months before Sophie and Becky completed the management buyout of Peregrine, Becky suffered a series of heart attacks and was rushed to hospital.
She subsequently underwent a double heart bypass operation, followed by several months of recovery and rehabilitation as she gradually rebuilt her strength.
It was an incredibly difficult and uncertain time, and understandably the plans we had for the business became far less important while Becky focused on getting well.
Thankfully, Becky has made an excellent recovery and, is now very much back to business as usual at Peregrine.
Seeing first-hand the impact that heart problems can have is a big part of the reason Sophie chose to support the Heart Research UK, whose work includes funding research into preventing, treating and curing heart diseases, alongside work in communities to improve heart health and help identify risks earlier.
🏃 The challenge begins
Following a family holiday, Sophie’s marathon training officially began on 3 August.
With more than eight months to prepare, there is plenty of time to build up the miles. However, for someone who has never exactly described running as a favourite hobby, 26.2 miles still feels a very long way away.
The training plan will also run straight through January — so while the Peregrine team are busy getting tax returns over the line, Sophie will apparently be spending what is left of her spare time running increasingly long distances. Whoever planned an April marathon clearly wasn't an accountant!
The whole thing still feels fairly daunting, and putting this blog out there makes it considerably more real. Until now, Sophie could tell people she was running the London Marathon while retaining at least some ability to pretend it wasn't actually happening. That option has now gone!
Training has started, the fundraising page is live and there are now far too many people who know about it to quietly change her mind!
We’ll share a few updates on Sophie’s progress over the coming months alongside our usual tax, accounting and business news — we promise Peregrine is not about to become a running blog!
💷 Supporting Sophie — and a quick tax point
Sophie is raising money for the Heart Research UK, and any support would be hugely appreciated.
You can donate directly through her JustGiving page here:
And, because we are accountants, we couldn't write a fundraising blog without slipping in at least one tax point.
If you donate personally and claim Gift Aid, the charity can generally claim an additional 25p for every £1 donated, provided you have paid enough UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax to cover the amount reclaimed.
Higher and additional rate taxpayers may also be able to claim further personal tax relief. This works by extending the basic-rate tax band by the gross value of the donation and can reduce the amount of income taxed at the higher or additional rate.
If a donation is made through a limited company, a qualifying charitable donation can generally be deducted from the company’s total profits before Corporation Tax is calculated, subject to the relevant conditions.
So, whether you donate personally or through your company, there may be a tax benefit too (we couldn't resist mentioning it!)
🧡 Every donation makes a difference
Every donation, however big or small, will help the Heart Research UK continue funding research and improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart and circulatory diseases.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Peregrine — and to anyone who sponsors Sophie, an extra thank you.
We’ll keep you updated on the training over the coming months and, all being well, will have a finish-line photo to share next April.
This article provides general guidance and should not be treated as advice tailored to your individual circumstances. The tax treatment of charitable donations depends on how the donation is made and the circumstances of the donor, so please contact us for advice specific to your position.
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