Eight Bristol Lawyers In Fundraising Drive

A firm of Bristol solicitors is getting ready to run 10K to raise hundreds of pounds for the MS Therapy Centre in Nailsea, as part of a year of fundraising events.

The Bristol office of Irwin Mitchell has adopted the West of England Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre as its charity of the year, and on May 15 the firm will have eight runners in the Bristol 10K hoping to raise hundreds of pounds between them.

Deborah Bigwood, a solicitor with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors who co-ordinates the Bristol office’s fundraising initiatives said: “There are many deserving causes, but we all felt we wanted to support a smaller local charity.

“After visiting the MS Therapy Centre, we immediately knew it was the organisation we wanted to support. We had the opportunity to talk to some of the people with MS and their supporters.

“We have seen first-hand how important the centre is to them, not only for the therapies but for the opportunity to meet others living with the same condition, which helps them to feel less isolated.

“Now we are looking forward to being able to do something ourselves on May 15 to help raise the funds they so urgently need.”

The charity in Nailsea is planning to move to a new purpose-built centre in Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, so that it can expand its range of services and ultimately help more people from the region who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis.

The MS Therapy Centre treats 300 people in the Bristol and Somerset area with Multiple Sclerosis.  The recent rise in the number of patients by 20 per cent has put pressure on the resources of the charity which relies entirely on public donations to be able to fund its expert staff, and deliver crucial treatments and therapies to people who depend on its existence.

Julian Withers, fundraising manager for the MS Therapy Centre, said: “We are extremely pleased that Irwin Mitchell has chosen the therapy centre to be its charity of the year and I know they have lots of great events planned throughout the year.

“We wish all the runners good luck for May 15 and it is fantastic to see so much support for the charity by the firm who may be the fittest solicitors in Bristol after this.”

To find out more information about the charity and how to organise or take part in fundraising, call: 01275 852043, or email: fundraising@mstherapybristol.org.uk 

Note to Editors:
More than 1700 people in Greater Bristol Area suffer with MS and over 100 people are diagnosed every year.
MS is the most common cause of disability in the UK and affects most in their prime, between the age of 20 and 40.
MS affects the nervous system and actions we do on a daily basis become difficult.