Colleagues at a Dorset firm put their own spin on the 12 days of Christmas with a gruelling fitness challenge in aid of the UK’s biggest multiple sclerosis charity, the MS Society.

24 team members at property finance business MSP Capital spent 12 hours exercising in their Poole office gym to tackle what they dubbed the ‘12 classes of Christmas’.

From 7am to 7pm, a succession of hour-long classes were themed around different fitness activities such as yoga, stretching, running and Zumba.

And to reflect a seasonal message of fun and good cheer, they were given festive names.

The line-up included Mistletoe Muscles (high intensity workout), Get into the Stretching Spirit (stretching), Frosty Footwork (Zumba), Tinsel Twist Yoga (yoga), Reindeer Run Club (running), Winter Wonderland Walk (walking) and Bauble Burn (burn workout).

There was also Santa Strength (low intensity workout), Candy Cane Core (body pump workout), North Pole Pilates (pilates), Christmas Combat (body combat) and Jingle Bell Boogie (circuits with glowsticks).

The 12-hour challenge raised £1,600 for the MS Society, a charity suggested by finance assistant Natasha Tomlinson – whose friend Imogen is living with an MS diagnosis.

“The MS Society is so important to me,” Imogen told the team.

“When I got diagnosed, its website was so useful when it came to understanding the condition and what was happening to me.

“There’s also support for family and friends to help them understand too.

“The MS Society is working to find effective treatments to prevent MS, and they also provide an MS helpline.

“This is so important to ensure that people living with MS, like me, can feel supported and part of a community.”

Lee Merrifield, credit and underwriting director at MSP Capital, added: “It was heartening to see so many colleagues involved, all supporting each other throughout 12 hours of intense activity.

“Everyone did their very best so that we could collectively help Imogen and others like her who are living with MS.

“While taking the opportunity for some festive fun, we’re thrilled to have raised so much money for a charity that provides such amazing and essential support.”

The 12 classes of Christmas continues an annual series of end-of-year charity challenges from team MSP held in the gym.

Last December, 35 staff together lifted more than a million pounds in weight over 24 hours in aid of Forest Holme Hospice.

And at the end of 2022, a 12-hour triathlon involving individual stints on a treadmill, static bike and rowing machine raised funds for Young Lives vs Cancer.

• To donate to the 12 classes of Christmas initiative, visit the Just Giving page.