Striding out in Santa hats, a team from the region’s largest law firm will be taking part in a six-and-a-half-mile sponsored walk from their Grimsby headquarters to raise money for a leading veterans’ charity.
At 4.30pm on Wednesday December 11, lawyers, their colleagues, friends, relatives and supporters at Wilkin Chapman solicitors, based at Cartergate, will be setting off for the sponsored walk.
By doing so, the aim is to raise at least £675 for Walking With The Wounded’s ‘Walking Home For Christmas’ initiative. The national charity has this year launched the fund-raiser and wants as many people as possible to take part in walks to raise money for the wellbeing and support of veterans.
The £675 will pay for seven intensive one-to-one mental health care sessions for a veteran. Wilkin Chapman is organising similar events at its other regional offices with a target to raise £4,725, to fund seven programmes.
Setting off from Cartergate the walkers will take a 6.6-mile route taking in Cleethorpes Pier before heading back to Grimsby and Docks Beer – for a few festive refreshments. Grimsby Senior solicitor in the field of military personal injury, Louisa Donaghy, said:
“This is a really great opportunity for us all to get some pre-festive exercise while raising money for such a good cause. For all of us who will be looking forward to a festive season with family and friends, it is important to remember that there are others out there who continue to need our help and we know some of those individuals will be military veterans,” said Louisa.
The fund-raiser comes as the firm was awarded an Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award for its commitment to serving the country’s serving personnel and veterans. Senior solicitor Gordon Holt and colleague Lucy Reding collected the award during a presentation in Leicester, which was organised by the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
Both the walk and the Covenant award were welcomed in North East Lincolnshire by Armed Forces Champion Alex Baxter, whose voluntary team based at The Knoll in Cleethorpes are responsible for the Armed Forces Weekend.
Alex praised organisations that assist veterans who are both injured and need support or are work-ready and need opportunity – something that the Covenant award recognises.
“There is a need to continue raising awareness of our veterans. They may be injured and require support, or it may be that they need help to recognise the vast number of transferable skills they have and how they can be deployed in civilian society and perform extremely well,” said Alex.
On receiving the Silver award, Partner and Head of the firm’s Military Sector, James Marsden, said: “Wilkin Chapman has been representing members of the armed forces community for many decades, acting for serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families, in all spheres of military law. The firm has also benefitted enormously from employing members of the armed forces community and the invaluable experience that they are able to bring.
“Receiving an Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award is obviously a huge honour for the firm but, in reality, what we are able to give back to the armed forces community is only a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices that are made by the members of our armed forces, past and present, and their families,” he added.
Supporters can sign up for the Grimsby walk and learn more about Walking With The Wounded and Walking Home For Christmas at http://www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com/teams/wilkin-chapman-grimsby
