Fundraising Challenge Remembers Colleague

Staff at law firm Roythornes have stepped up to the fundraising challenge in memory of a colleague who died last year.

Sarah Banner joined the firm's private client team in November 2015 and soon made a positive impression with clients and staff alike. But she was diagnosed with a returning cancer in January 2019 and sadly passed away in January 2020.

Sarah was cared for at the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice and as a result of this close connection, Roythornes chose the charity as its Charity of the Year.

Sarah’s Challenge has been launched to give a focus to fundraising efforts and all 200 staff across the firm’s five offices are being encouraged to take part in some form of challenge to raise funds for Thorpe Hall.

The campaign has only just been launched but already the pledges are flooding in. They range from walking, running and cycling challenging distances by the campaign's end on 22nd July (Sarah’s birthday), to running four miles every four hours for 48 hours – an impressive feat being undertaken by the firm's Finance Director Sam Elkin.

Managing Director Vember Mortlock said: “This is an idea that came about after chatting to the Thorpe Hall team and it’s brilliant to see how everyone in the firm has risen to the challenge. It’s been a tough few months for most people, but the team at Thorpe Hall have continued their incredible work and we’re delighted to be supporting them while remembering a much-loved colleague.”

Nilesh Patel, Senior Community Fundraiser from Sue Ryder at Thorpe Hall, added: “It’s great that Roythornes not only chose us as their Charity of the Year, but also came up with the idea of Sarah’s Challenge. Because there is a personal connection, the work they are doing to raise funds seems to mean so much more and we’re fully behind their efforts.”

To donate to Sarah’s Challenge, visit the JustGiving page.