10/07/2017

A charity ball held in memory of former Beswicks Legal partner Mike Stephenson has raised nearly £20,000 for Stoke-on-Trent’s Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

Two-hundred and sixty seven guests packed out the Bet365 Stadium’s Waddington Suite for the event, which was compered by TV presenter Nick Hancock.

The ball was a celebration of the life of much-loved Beswicks’ colleague Mike Stephenson who passed away at the Dougie Mac Hospice earlier this year.

As well as attending the event, many businesses showed generous support through sponsorship, including Berkeley Court, Carlsberg UK, Exesios, KMF Group, Mitten Clarke, Parsley and Sage, PREM Management, Sabit Ltd, Stoke City FC, Stone Driving Range and Synectics Solutions.

A charity auction, raffle and prize draw raised over £10,000 alone thanks to the generosity of dozens of other organisations and individuals who donated an array of prizes to help with the fund-raising.

Beswicks senior partner Gary Mellor said: “It was a fantastic evening; a real celebration for a great man, in aid of a wonderful charity. Mike would definitely have approved!”

Nick Phillips, managing partner, added: “We received a huge amount of support from friends, colleagues and contacts, and are incredibly grateful to them for making it such a special and enjoyable occasion.”

Suzi Smith, the Dougie Mac’s head of corporate fundraising and events, said: “To raise nearly £20,000 is an amazing achievement. All hospice services are free of charge to patients and families, but that means we must raise over £11 million each year and are dependent on the support of individuals and companies.

“Our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this spectacular event, whether as a guest, a sponsor, an auction or raffle prize provider and, of course, a very special thanks to Beswicks Legal.”

In addition to the ball, the Beswicks’ team recently raised £6,000 completing a six dales challenge for the hospice, as well as participating in the Moonlight Walk, Dougie Mac bike ride and 5k run/walk.