A team o legal experts from Lichfield have signed up to support St Giles Hospice by taking part in this summer’s Solstice Walk.
Gill Patterson and Erica Burt-Moore are among 20 walkers from Keelys Solicitors who will be taking part in this fabulous fundraising event – and they are urging women across the region to join them on the night-time stroll around the city’s streets on June 23.
“Having taken part in the last three Solstice Walks, I cannot recommend it highly enough,” says Erica, a Wills and Probate Solicitor at the firm in Dam Street. “It’s an awe-inspiring event – looking down the hill from the starting line and seeing the crowds of women taking part for such a good cause is a really special moment.
“The fact it’s at night makes it more special, and it’s wonderful to see so many people outside their houses and the pubs cheering the walkers on.
“The whole community gets behind the event and I cannot stress how great the atmosphere is, and I’d advise anyone to give it a go this year if they haven’t done so before.”
Erica’s work has brought her into contact with many St Giles Hospice patients who wish to draw up a will to take care of their loved ones.
She explained: “After visiting the hospice and meeting the patients I quickly became aware of how important St Giles Hospice is to the local community, and in fact, there have been plenty of people who have left money to the charity in their wills.
Erica’s colleague Gill, who practises family law at Keelys, added: “Everybody is very much looking forward to the Solstice Walk, and I hope that women at other companies in the area will consider getting a team together to take part in the same way that we are.
“Some of our team are regular runners, while others are less active, and the great thing about the Solstice Walk is that it’s a gentle stroll ideal for people of all abilities.”
The Keelys team will include Maria Parr, who is herself a cancer survivor, having beaten the disease five years ago.
“Maria’s experiences really made the importance of cancer charities hit home and made us more determined to take part in the Solstice Walk,” adds Erica. “We are delighted to have such a big team from Keelys taking part, and hope this year’s event will be the biggest and best to date.”
The 2012 Solstice Walk takes place from 10pm on June 23 and is a night-time walk covering two 4.5-mile circuits of the city’s streets. Entry is £15 per walker and is only open to women aged 16 and over, although men are welcome to volunteer as stewards.
Women can sign up for the Solstice Walk by visiting www.stgileshospice.com/solsticewalk, by calling Jenni Dawson on 01543 432542, or emailing jenni.dawson@st-giles-hospice.org.uk.
