Two prominent Beverley-based solicitors have raised over £5,000 for a number of local charities. Over the course of two days in July, both Chris Garwood, partner, and Mark Carlton, senior partner, of Beverley based Wilkin Chapman Solicitors, walked the 50 miles from Grimsby to Beverley.
The walk was in aid of three Beverley based charities: Kickstart Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Support, Beverley Consolidated Charity and Beverley Community Lift, which are the Beverley office’s nominated charities for its 10th Anniversary year. The walk also raised funds for Henshaws Society for Blind People, which provides support, education, community housing and sheltered employment for those who are visually impaired and have other disabilities.
The date of the sponsored walk not only coincided with the Beverley office’s 10th anniversary, but also coincided with one of the hottest days in July – making the 50 miles seem more like 500! They may not have walked 500 miles but the pair of solicitors certainly lived up to spirit of the Proclaimers song ‘500 miles’ by ensuring that all the money that ‘comes in for the work I do’ is passed on to the Beverley office’s nominated charities.
The daring duo set off from a slightly overcast Grimsby at 8am on Thursday 9 July, following the route of the Nev Cole Way. The first day saw them walk around 32 miles, taking in the sights of the Humber, before overnighting at the Humber Bridge hotel. On Tuesday, the sun was shining for the final leg of their journey which followed the Beverley 20 route.
Despite the searing temperatures, some sunburn and blisters, the pair arrived at the law firm’s Beverley office around 3.15pm on Friday 10 July, over 30 hours from their start in Grimsby. Their arrival coincided with a celebration of the firm’s 10th anniversary, where they were greeted by a round of applause from the waiting staff and guests.
Commenting on the walk, Chris Garwood, partner at Wilkin Chapman Solicitors, said: “I am so delighted that we exceeded our initial fundraising target of £1,000. The generosity of staff, clients and friends has been overwhelming.
“Initially, a walk of 50 miles didn’t seem too daunting or hard, however actually walking that distance is something of a different matter and was a lot harder than we expected. Despite our aching feet and sunburn, the knowledge that all four local charities have benefited greatly from our efforts makes it all worthwhile.”
The sponsored walk kicked off a year of fundraising activities for the Beverley law firm. The next fundraising challenge has already been set and saw senior solicitor, James Marsden, and Mark Carlton, senior partner, embark on a mammoth 121 mile sponsored bike ride, visiting all of the firm’s nine offices, before finishing in Beverley. Donations for this fundraising bike ride can be made at: www.sponsorme.co.uk/wilkinchapman/branch-to-branch-charity-bike-ride.aspx
