Inspirational Toddler Abbie Inspires Irwin Mitchell’s Fundraising

By Suzanne Rutter

North East lawyers put their competitive skills to the test when they organised and took part in a quiz night to help raise funds for a charity dedicated to an inspirational youngster battling cancer.

Staff from Irwin Mitchell’s Newcastle office took part in the quiz night at As You Like It in Jesmond to raise money for the Abbie Harbottle Fund For Sick Children. The firm’s Newcastle office, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has chosen Abbie’s fund as its Charity of the Year 2013.

Abbie, now four-years-old, has been battling a rare type of cancer called fibroblastoma since she was born and has undergone a series of major operations in her short life. She was also born with a hole in her heart and only one working lung and faces further surgery when she’s older. The fund was set up to buy toys for children’s wards in hospitals across the region.

The quiz, which was hosted by Amazing Radio comedy duo Colin and Matt, was won by a team of six called ‘the Bearl Farmers’ from J S Parker Ltd and Irwin Mitchell, helped raise £1,089 for the charity.

Katie Thackray, an Associate in the Court of Protection team at Irwin Mitchell’s Newcastle office, attended the quiz.

She said: “Our Charity of the Year throughout 2013 has been the Abbie Harbottle Fund For Sick Children so we were delighted to host and take part in the quiz night because it’s a charity we all really believe in at Irwin Mitchell.

“We first learned about Abbie and her charity in 2011 when we read a story about her in the Chronicle and we were really inspired to help the fund to raise awareness about Abbie’s plight and to raise the money needed to help buy new toys and fund better facilities for children’s wards at hospitals in the North East.

“Many of our clients are youngsters like Abbie who depend on first-class facilities as well as play areas to ensure their treatment and time in hospital is as stress-free as possible so we were thrilled to see more than 100 people and 15 teams come along to the event.

“The quiz was a lot of fun and we hope it encourages other fundraisers in the region to do their bit to help boost the fund too.”

The charity committee is also encouraging keen runners to take part in the Great North Run in Newcastle on 16 September as well as a bungee jump at Gateshead Quayside on 7 October.

Sarah Forster, chairwoman of the Abbie Harbottle Fund For Sick Children, said: “There was a wonderful, competitive atmosphere at the quiz night and thanks to support form Irwin Mitchell and the 14 other teams which entered we were able to raise more than £1,000.

“I hope the event inspired other people, whether as part of a team of work colleagues, family or friends to help us raise as much money as possible to help boost the care and facilities available at children’s ward across the North East.”

Host Matt Horne, from Amazing Radio, thanked fundraisers for taking part in the event.

He added: "The team at Irwin Mitchell put on a fantastic night for Abbie Harbottle and we were glad we could be a part of it. It's tough times for everyone but the fact we were able to raise over £1,000 goes to show that the people of the North East support those that need it the most and know to do it while having a great time, although their performance in the North East round of the quiz did make us question some people's heritage."