Member Article

Ain’t no mountain high enough for Talbots staff as they raise £13k for Birmingham Children’s Hospital

40 staff from Talbots Law proved that no challenge is too big when they conquered Wales’ largest peak recently, smashing their charity target in the process.

Directors, solicitors and support staff from the West Midlands legal specialist donned their hiking boots to climb Snowdon, overcoming difficult underfoot conditions and soaring temperatures.

The team took just 3.5 hours to scale the 1085 metres, raising a staggering £13,256 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s Critical Journeys Appeal.

This was £7,700 more than they were targeting and this will be used to fund lifesaving equipment for the fleet of four KIDS/NTS ambulances. These are mobile intensive care units contained within an ambulance and provide emergency specialist transport for critically ill babies and children across the region.

Esther Baggaley of Talbots was one of the climbers: “It was a long day and the walk/climb itself was a lot tougher than I imagined it would be - I think that makes our achievement that much greater.

“Some people were quicker than others, and I was more often than not bringing up the rear, but I felt like we were there as a team and we did it together. We should all be very proud of the fantastic amount of money we’ve raised.”

Anna Tomlinson, Family Solicitor, agreed: “It was the hardest thing that I have ever done, but the feeling of elation when we managed to get to the top was fantastic. We were walking with two ladies who have had direct experience of the amazing work Birmingham Children’s Hospital do and this was a huge motivation. I enjoyed every moment, but I don’t think I will be doing it again any time soon!”

Talbots Law, which employs 200 people across six offices across the Black Country and Worcestershire, chose Birmingham Children’s Hospital as its Charity of the Year at the beginning of 2018 and has already raised more than £30,000.

There are still a number of ambitious challenges to come, with the firm’s cycling team of Matt Wistow, Peter Hill, Callum Haynes and Keith Yates taking part in the London to Paris Bike Ride in September.

The intrepid quartet will start off from Crystal Palace in London, before cycling through Kent to Dover. From there they will get the ferry to Calais and then continue the journey through Abbeville, Beauvais and on to Paris over the course of four days.

Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, four Talbots ladies are running the Birmingham Half Marathon later this year, with Chrissie Green, Ruth Hayes, Sarah Rooney and Sophie Fraser busy training for the 13.5 miles and that ‘hill’.

Mary Mocklow, Chief Executive of Talbots Law, concluded: “What has been so pleasing is how many of our staff have stepped forward to take part in activities, in order to raise much needed money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

“There has been physical endurance, we’ve participated in the ‘Big Bandage’ and taken part in ‘dress down’ days. With £30,000 already raised, I’m hoping we can move that along to maybe £40,000 before the year ends.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .