Irwin Mitchell To Take On Road Race To Raise Funds For Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

Lawyers at the Southampton office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell are swapping their business suits for running kit as they prepare to take part in the 2017 ABP 10km and raise vital funds for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA).

Six staff will be leaving the comfort of their desks to tackle the annual event, which is taking place on Sunday, April 23 and starts in the Guildhall Square area.

The law firm is hoping that the race will get their fundraising efforts for HIOWAA, which was recently selected by staff in the Southampton office to be their charity of the year for 2017, off to a flying start.

The air ambulance is a cause close to the team’s heart, with several of their seriously injured clients treated and provided with prompt transfers to nearby hospitals thanks to the vital service.

Last year, Irwin Mitchell’s Southampton office raised £7,500 for SERV Wessex, an organisation which delivers essential products to and from the air ambulance base at Thruxton.

Claire Howard, a partner and expert serious injury lawyer based at Irwin Mitchell’s Southampton office, has volunteered for HIOWAA for two years as a fundraiser and speaker, and has a personal connection to the life-saving work of the air ambulance.

Expert Opinion

“For the last 20 years I have represented many local people who have been seriously injured, many of whom have unfortunately needed the Air Ambulance.

“In May 2015, the work of this vital service came even closer to home when my then 18-year-old nephew, Nathan, was knocked over by a car in Winchester. He was unconscious and suffered a seizure at the scene. He suffered a mild head injury and facial fractures.

“HIOWAA was dispatched along with other emergency vehicles and he was treated at the scene before being driven to Southampton General Hospital. Thankfully he recovered and I decided to give back to the amazing charity which helped him when he needed it most.

“I am so proud of my colleagues who have pledged to raise as much as possible to ensure the service can continue to operate.

“All of our competitors for the ABP 10km are already training hard in an effort to register strong times and smash personal bests – and there’s no greater motivation than knowing it will support a truly fantastic, life-saving cause.” Claire Howard - Solicitor

HIOWAA has flown in excess of 7,300 missions in the last decade.

If you would like to sponsor the runners at Irwin Mitchell, visit their fundraising page at