Leeds Law Firm Shows Their Support To Cancer Hospice

A leading law firm is encouraging women throughout West Yorkshire to put on their walking shoes to raise vital funds for a Leeds hospice.

The Leeds Midnight Walk is a women only sponsored walk in aid of St. Gemma’s Hospice, starting at 10pm on Saturday 17th May where a team of six staff members at Irwin Mitchell will be participating in the 10 mile walk along the streets of the city.

St Gemma’s Hospice is the largest hospice in Yorkshire and cares for over 2,500 local people each year who have life-limiting illnesses with difficult symptoms to be managed. They have a specialist team of staff and nurses who are available 24 hours a day for their patients. The Hospice also cares for patients in the community via a specialist community team.

All care provided by the St Gemma’s team is free of charge to patients, families and carers and therefore relies on events like the Leeds Midnight Walk to enable them to carry on helping so many people throughout the region.

Tracy Dick, Director of Business at St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds, said: “All of our care is given free of charge to patients and families but we have to raise the majority of our £9 million annual running costs through donations, legacies, fundraising initiatives and our chain of charity shops.”

Nicola Handley, a specialist industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office, said: “At Irwin Mitchell, we see the devastating impact that terminal industrial illnesses such as mesothelioma have, not just on the lives of victims, but for their families too.

“We also see first-hand how dedicated hospice staff look after some of our clients and their families, providing them with compassionate and professional care. That’s why we are thrilled to support St Gemma’s Hospice Midnight Walk and hope as many people as possible are inspired by the fantastic work it does.”

Last year’s Leeds Midnight Walk raised over £80,000 for St Gemma’s Hospice and the aim is to make 2014’s event even bigger.

Entry for the event is £15 and any money raised in sponsorship will go directly towards helping patients at St Gemma’s Hospice.

Alternatively if you would like to volunteer your services for this event or if you know anyone who might be interested in volunteering, help will be needed with registration points, stewarding and refreshments on the night.

If you have any queries about the Midnight Walk or you would like to register as a volunteer please telephone: 0113 218 5505 or email leedsmidnightwalk@st-gemma.co.uk