Solicitors swap suits for boots in anniversary walk

Solicitors from a Yorkshire law firm marked 105 years in business at the weekend by swapping their suits for walking boots to raise funds for a children’s charity.

Staff from Walker Foster Solicitors joined family and friends on Saturday 8th June for a 13-mile hike to raise funds for The Principle Trust, which provides free respite holidays to children who are underprivileged, disadvantaged, disabled, have life-limiting conditions, or who have experienced poverty, trauma or abuse.

The walk, which raised £700, formed part of Walker Foster’s commitment to partner the Skipton-based charity. Striding out from their Skipton office, the team walked to their Silsden office and back, notching up 37,000 steps.

Established in 1919, Walker Foster employs a team of over 70 lawyers and support staff across their network of offices in Skipton, Silsden, Settle, Ilkley, Northallerton, Harrogate and Barnoldswick.

The firm provides legal advice and representation to individuals and businesses in specialisms ranging from family law, property and dispute resolution to employment law, wills, trusts and estates.

Kelly Chambers, Head of People at Walker Foster commented, “We want to thank everyone who supported this event, which follows on from our Volunteering Day in March, when some of our team spent a day preparing the charity’s holiday homes, ready to welcome more families this year. It was a very fitting way to mark 105 years of service to local communities.”

Founder of The Principle Trust Mike Davies, MBE, said: “We are indebted to the team at Walker Foster; thanks to companies like them, The Trust is able to help more of the region’s disadvantaged, disabled and poorly children to escape their everyday troubles and create valuable, happy memories.”

Since 2011 the Trust has raised over £1.7m and provided free respite breaks to 5000 children. The charity, which is generously supported by patrons and fundraisers across Yorkshire, operates on a 100% donations policy, meaning every penny raised directly benefits children and their families. In 2024 the Trust will provide over 200 families with a week-long respite holiday.