Wright Hassall’s pedal power raises charity cash

A WARWICKSHIRE law firm proved to be a tour de force as it blitzed some of the country’s largest legal practices in a charity challenge.

Wright Hassall was the only law firm outside London and the South East to be chosen to take part in the Tour le Law event.

The charity race sees firms race against each other on static bikes in a bid to be the first to get from London to Paris and back again, raising money for Breast Cancer Care.

Around 100 members of staff donned their cycling gear for 15 and 30 minute sessions – and the firm came in third out of 20 firms, covering 1382.86 kilometres.

The podium finish left some of the biggest legal names trailing in the Wright Hassall wake.

Vikki Whittemore, sales & marketing director at the Leamington firm, said: “It really was a great event. We had 160 slots to fill over the two day period, but everyone really rallied to the cause.

“As we were closing in on third place on the last day, we ended up with the reception full of people cheering the two cyclists on. It suddenly became very competitive and everyone got involved.”

The event is expected to raise £100,000 for Breast Cancer Care.

Richborough provides backing for local rugby club

PROPERTY company Richborough Estates has signed a sponsorship deal with Rugby St Andrews RFC, which will see tit support both the mini and junior teams for the next two years.

The sponsorship will provide the club with the funds for new kit for both youth teams, which include children aged between six and 16 years, featuring the Richborough Estates logo.

The sponsorship idea is the result of feedback following a public consultation held by Richborough Estates at tRugby St Andrews C, regarding the company’s proposed development of 85 new homes in the local Hillmorton area.

When the club, which is based adjacent to the proposed development site, approached Richborough Estates about sponsorship, the firm jumped at the opportunity to support the teams.

John Parsons, chairman of Rugby St Andrews RFC mini & juniors said: “We’re confident that the new kit will go a long way to help motivate the young players for a great season and to play the brilliant rugby we know they are capable of.”

Workers help celebrate milestone by going ‘deaf for a day’

EMPLOYEES of an employment and training specialists received first-hand experience of the effects of hearing loss in the workplace, all in the name of charity.

Staff at Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) in Solihull wore special earplugs to replicate the disability in support of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

It was all part of the Birmingham-based company’s tenth anniversary of payroll giving which has delivered more than £250,000 from staff salaries back to charities and good causes.

The ‘Deaf for a day’ challenge was organised by the charity which has enjoyed an on-going relationship with the company for the past nine years.

Among those taking part were Kim Sheldon and Helen Forman, who presented the money to the charity.

Forman said: “A small deduction each month through our wages can make a huge impact on people who need our help.”

DCS boost to Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital appeal

STRATFORD-upon-Avon based health and beauty product manufacturer and distributor DCS Group has donated £15,000 towards the new Stratford Cancer and Eye Hospital.
 
Denys Shortt OBE, the founder of DCS who is also chairman of the £1m Hospital Appeal, said: “This hospital is the most important development for Stratford-upon-Avon in my lifetime and provides essential care for two of the most common ailments in old age – cancer and macular degeneration in eyes.”
 
“This new Cancer and Eye Hospital will be a Centre of Excellence in Britain. As a local business we are doing our bit to help the local community.”
 
Fundraising for the appeal has just started and is already over the £70,000 mark.

Halls staff brave fire walk for Sight Concern

A CHARITY for blind and partially sighted people is almost £1,000 better off after a firewalk by a Worcester property firm.

Sight Concern Worcestershire benefitted when a team from Halls attended its Halloween Firewalk.

The charity helps people who have lost their sight, who are frightened and need help to take the next step, face the fear of living with sight loss and achieve some of the things they think are impossible.

Halls Partner Jason Clines said: ‘I know through personal experience that we all take our sight for granted.  Sight Concern is a fantastic local charity which helps the blind and partially sighted to achieve so much in the face of such adversity and we are proud to be associated with them. 

“We were delighted to be able to offer our support which we hope will help them to continue the wonderful work they do.“

An intrepid team of eight from Halls walked on a bed of hot embers burning at over 1000°F at the Bank House Hotel, Bransford.