The Bristol office of national law firm Clarke Willmott has extended its support for a leading muscular dystrophy charity after fundraising activities were halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Clarke Willmott named Duchenne UK as its official office charity in February last year after partner Oliver Smedley’s son was diagnosed with the condition. 
The partnership was due to continue until 2021 but, with fundraising efforts massively curtailed this year because of the lockdown, the office will now continue its support until 2022 to make up for lost time.
Duchenne UK is a national charity that supports those with the devastating muscle wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which affects mainly young boys who tend to be diagnosed before the age of five. There are around 2,500 patients in the UK and an estimated 300,000 sufferers worldwide.
The charity, which relies entirely on donations, researches treatments and cures as well as supporting the families of sufferers.
Last year Clarke Willmott Bristol office staff and friends raised £10,000 for Duchenne UK with one event alone – a gruelling 100-mile, three-day trek from North Devon to Bristol, pictured.
Clarke Willmott Bristol office corporate social responsibility (CSR) co-ordinator Eileen Eastment said: “The circumstances of this year have meant that we were unable to hold any of the usual in-office fundraising activities and we didn’t want the charity to be short-changed.
“CSR is vitally important to us at Clarke Willmott in Bristol. We have had the good fortune to have worked in partnership with some amazing charities over the years and we were particularly invested in supporting Duchenne UK because of the personal link to our colleague Oliver and his family.
“All charities have been hit extremely hard by the pandemic so we will do our best to help financially and in any other way we can during these difficult times.”
Clarke Willmott staff hold regular events throughout the year to raise money for the charities chosen by its seven offices, including dress-down days, bake sales, raffles, first Friday drinks and tuckshops.
Each office also plans its own additional activities such as quizzes, team and individual staff challenges, including runs, skydives and triathlons.
Duchenne UK fundraising manager Dala Jenkin said: “Thank you to the Clarke Willmott team for extending support to Duchenne UK until the end of April 2022. We are so grateful and I look forward to continuing working with you.”
Clarke Willmott Bristol office’s previous chosen charity was Bristol-based anti-slavery campaign group Unseen, for which it raised £42,000.
As well as Bristol, Clarke Willmott also has offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.
