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Latimer Hinks supports St Teresa’s Hospice with a £20,500 donation
Latimer Hinks Solicitors has made a considerable donation to a local hospice in memory of a former colleague.
The Darlington-based company has contributed £20,500 to the in-patient unit at St Teresa’s Hospice, which provides palliative and end-of-life care and support to residents and carers in South Durham and North Yorkshire.
The Legal 500 and Chambers UK ranked firm organised various fundraising events throughout 2017 to support local charities, which included St Teresa’s Hospice in honour of colleague Helen Thomas, who sadly passed away in 2016.
As part of those events, Latimer Hinks marked its 125th anniversary with a Charity Ball which raised over £36,000 from auctions, raffles and ticket sales. Of that, around £15,000 is being paid to St Teresa’s Hospice.
A further contribution of £5,000 was raised by Hel’s Angels, a team of colleagues who came together to raise money in Helen’s memory. The group participated in various fundraising events, including the Hamsterley Forest 10k, St Teresa’s It’s a Knockout and Bark in the Park.
One of the in-patient rooms has recently been named ‘The Helen Jane Thomas Room supported by Latimer Hinks Solicitors’ as a lasting tribute to Helen.
In addition to the £20,000 donation for the in-patient unit, Latimer Hinks is contributing a further £500 to support the Rapid Response Service, which was an invaluable resource for Helen during her illness. The service provides urgent care within one hour of a crisis occurring, and can often enable ill patients to stay at home rather than being admitted to hospital.
Anne Elliott, Chief Executive at Latimer Hinks, said: “It means a lot to us to be supporting a charity which is so close to the hearts of our team and the local community. Helen was a highly-valued member of Latimer Hinks, and is greatly missed, so to have a room dedicated to Helen is an honour I know she would be proud of.”
Jane Bradshaw , Chief Executive of St Teresa’s Hospice, said: “We are extremely grateful to the team at Latimer Hinks for the enthusiastic support they have given to St Teresa’s Hospice over the years. The recent donations towards our in-patient unit and Rapid Response Service will make a real difference to the lives of so many people across South Durham and North Yorkshire.
“It was a privilege to work with Helen and to get to know her, and it’s such a fitting tribute to name a room in the in-patient unit in her memory. Helen’s colleagues have honoured her dedication to the charity by fundraising this last year, and they should all feel proud of what they have achieved.”
Natalie Palmer, a Director at Latimer Hinks who led the fundraising drive, said: “We would like to say thank you to everyone who has donated and fundraised in honour of Helen and all of the other local causes we have supported over the years. St Teresa’s Hospice was a great support to Helen during her illness, and supporting the new in-patient unit was something very close to her heart.”
