A spectacular evening of fundraising and dance hosted by one of the largest set of barristers’ chambers in the UK has been hailed a huge success.
More than 450 guests gathered on Friday evening to see members of the Midlands’ legal profession go toe to toe as they competed to lift the No5 Chambers Strictly 9 to 5 trophy.
The star studded event sponsored by Advanced Legal, AML Tax, Birmingham Airport and Connect PR took place at Villa Park’s Holte Suite and was hosted by Strictly favourite Anton Du Beke. The event raised more than £23,000 for the Child Brain Injury Trust, and honours on the night went to Charlotte Doyle and her professional partner Paul Cammack, dancing The Argentine Tango.
Charlotte, assistant solicitor at The Wilkes Partnership, commented: “The whole Strictly 9 to 5 experience has been amazing, from the training, to the Strictly dresses, and the night itself. I loved performing our routine and am very grateful to have taken part in the event, to help raise money for such a worthy cause.”
The four judges, chaired by former Strictly winner Camilla Dallerup, awarded the pair 39 points for their stunning performance, with No5’s own Jamie Gamble runner up with his and partner Kerry Alebon’s entertaining Foxtrot.
Head of Chambers Paul Bleasdale QC said: “We had an absolutely fantastic evening and are delighted to have raised so much money for the Child Brain Injury Trust.
“All of the dancers were superb, and we can’t thank them – or their partners – enough for committing so much time and effort into providing us with such an enjoyable time.”
Lisa Turan, CEO of the Child Brain Injury Trust said: “It was an amazing night, a brilliant concept that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
“We are incredibly grateful to No5 for their continued support of our charity that without any Government funding provides essential support to children and their families when brain injury strikes.”
The Child Brain Injury Trust is one of the No5’s nominated charities of the year, and Head of the Clinical Negligence Group, Satinder Hunjan QC, recently became a patron alongside Dame Judi Dench. The charity was established by a group of health professionals in 1991 to research and provide information regarding the effects of ‘traumatic’ injury on a child’s developing brain. It is now the leading voluntary sector organisation in the UK providing emotional and practical support to families affected by childhood acquired brain injury across the whole of the UK.
To donate to the charity go to the No5 Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/strictly9to5/
Pictured from left are: Lisa Turan, CEO of the Child Brain Injury Trust; Tony McDaid, Practice Director at No5 Chambers, host for the evening Anton Du Beke and Paul Bleasdale QC, Head of Chambers