The North West-based commercial and private client law firm has picked the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity (RMCHC) and the Alex Hulme Foundation after inviting suggestions from all of its team. It means that MLP Law staff will split the money raised from fundraising activities throughout 2015 between the two charities.
Several members of the MLP Law team have already agreed to donate the money they raise from completing the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon 2015 to the RMCHC and the Alex Hulme Foundation. Altrincham-headquartered MLP Law is among the main sponsors of the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon on Sunday, 19 April 2015 – and the RMCHC is one of the marathon's official charities.
The law firm's choice of the RMCHC is particularly poignant for Stephen Attree, managing director of MLP Law. His son Ben was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was about six months old. The initial prognosis was uncertain and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (RMCH) took care of him for more than 12 weeks while he was undergoing treatment. But thanks to the dedicated support of the hospital's nurses and doctors, Ben recovered and he is now a happy and healthy seven year old.
The RMCH, which is the UK's largest single-site children's hospital with 371 beds, receives 200,000 patient visits each year. The RMCHC supports projects that make life easier for the hospital's young patients and their families.
Meanwhile, the selection of the Alex Hulme Foundation has been championed by Lesley Gill, director and head of wills, trusts and probate at MLP Law. In November 2014, she attended a business lunch at Sale in Greater Manchester in aid of the charity and was deeply touched by what she heard.
At the event, Alex Hulme's father Dave recounted the story of his son's life. Born in July 1999, Alex was diagnosed with B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in March 2011 but lost his six-month battle with cancer in September 2011. A month later, Alex's parents and auntie formed the Alex Hulme Foundation to help improve the research into and treatment of this disease. The foundation, which is based in Sale, is dedicated to the memory of Alex Hulme's life.
Stephen Attree, managing director of MLP Law, said: "We're passionate about giving something back to the community here at MLP Law so I'm delighted to announce that we'll be supporting two very-deserving charities in 2015.
"Everyone at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital did a wonderful job of looking after my son when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour, so I'll be eternally grateful to them for nursing Ben back to health. The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity helps families like mine through all sorts of difficult situations and I know first-hand what fantastic work they do.
"Meanwhile, the Alex Hulme Foundation is a very worthy cause. Alex's family has done a great job to improve the research and treatment of B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. And the fact that this foundation is based in Sale is a real inspiration to everyone at MLP Law working just down the road in Altrincham."
Simon Hill, ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon race director, said: "We are very proud to have MLP Law as one of our main supporters of the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon. It is fantastic that they are raising valuable funds for their chosen local charities and giving back to the community through the race."
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