Flights of fancy for Irwin Mitchell partners

Two senior partners at law firm Irwin Mitchell, together with two of their colleagues are set to embark on an exhilarating charity challenge next month.

Partners Fergal Dowling and Chris Rawstron are being joined by Alison Grosvenor and Sandra Dunne for the Fright or Flight challenge at the Park Regis Birmingham hotel at Five Ways.

Ms Grosvenor and Ms Dunne have agreed to tackle a near 160-ft abseil down the outside of the hotel while their male colleagues will race each other up the hotel’s 16 flights of stairs.

The Irwin Mitchell team is taking part in the challenge on February 16 to show the firm’s support for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.

Mr Dowling, national head of employment at Irwin Mitchell, said: “We are delighted to be taking on this challenge to raise much needed financial support for Birmingham St Mary’s, which provides care and support to local families living with terminal illness. We have been encouraged by the support we have received from our friends and colleagues both within the firm and outside of it.”

This is the second time that the local charity has hosted its Fright or Flight event, which is open to thrill-seeking professionals from across the city.

The challenge will help raise crucial funds for Birmingham St Mary’s, which provides care and support to local families living with terminal illness.

Charlotte Anson, corporate partnership manager at Birmingham St Mary’s, said: “I know both Fergal and Chris are very competitive, so it will be exciting to see who will take the top spot in our Fright or Flight challenge. This event is a great way to take on colleagues – or even other businesses – in a daring but fun way.

“It costs £8m to run our services every year and so we truly rely on the generosity of local people to ensure we can care for everyone that needs us, wherever they need us. Sponsorship raised from Fright or Flight will make a big difference to the families we support and will help us to continue to provide our expert care at the hospice, in people’s homes and in the local community.”

Pictured from left: Chris Rawstron (partner), Alison Grosvenor, Sandra Dunne and Fergal Dowling (partner), all Irwin Mitchell.