Year's charity efforts see Burness Paull donate £36,000

Three charities which support children with life-threatening conditions have received a total of £36,000 from Burness Paull's charitable efforts in 2018.

The firm's offices, in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, raised more than £18,000 with a wide range of fundraising events, and all funds raised were matched by the Burness Paull Foundation, the firm's charitable trust set up in 2015.

The Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) received more than £22,000 after being chosen by staff at the Edinburgh office. Colin Brown, who works as property director in the office, lost his nine-month-old daughter Eilish to the rare genetic condition Krabbe Disease in 2014. CHAS supported Colin and his wife Kirsten after Eilish’s diagnosis. 

Mr Brown said: “The CHAS staff were professional and caring to the very end of Eilish’s life and beyond, in their support for us and our family. Having seen their wonderful work at first hand, I suggested the Edinburgh office could make CHAS its chosen charity in 2018. This was agreed in a vote and I’m delighted we have raised so much money to help other parents unfortunate enough to find themselves in need of the support of CHAS.”

He and 16 Burness Paull colleagues abseiled off the Forth Bridge as part of the fundraising efforts. Another idea involved each office raffling off a day's extra annual leave.

The Glasgow office raised more than £8,000 for Project GO, a family fund set up by Nick and Kirsty Ohly, whose two young boys were diagnosed with the fatal genetic disease Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Fundraising efforts included a skydive by trainee solicitor Daniel Hannah.

Kirsty Ohly said: "Nick and I are so grateful that Burness Paull adopted Project GO as its Glasgow office charity in 2018. Ten years ago, the future was bleak for boys like Owen and George, but the rapid advances in medical science and gene therapy mean there is real hope of finally finding a cure for Duchenne. We are determined to make a difference for our sons and all families affected."

In Aberdeen, £6,000 was raised for Charlie House, a charity which supports babies, children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions, and their families.

It was founded in 2011 by Aberdeen mum Tracy Johnstone, who went into premature labour with twins and lost daughter Eva after only one day. Twin brother Louis spent most of his first year in hospital and required 24-hour, seven-day care. Tracy and husband Craig experienced the lack of specific support for families with such complex needs in the Aberdeen area, and Charlie House was born.

Lindsay Wallace, chair of the Burness Paull Foundation, commented: "Burness Paull’s employees have raised a huge amount for the charities they chose in each of their offices. Over the past 12 months, employees have baked, skydived, hiked and cycled their way to a raise a total of over £18,000 for the charities.

"Their efforts are making a real difference to three amazing causes – and to children and their families across Scotland who need their support. The Burness Paull Foundation was delighted to support their efforts by matching the sums raised."