A solicitor’s firm has extra reason to celebrate the Christmas season – after raising more than £7,000 for its chosen charity.

Ipswich Star: Photo, from left to right: Kerseys staff Judy Sykes, from Kerseys also dressed up as a fairy for a world-record breaking attempt for the Woolverstone Wish Appeal.Photo, from left to right: Kerseys staff Judy Sykes, from Kerseys also dressed up as a fairy for a world-record breaking attempt for the Woolverstone Wish Appeal. (Image: Archant)

Kerseys has been fundraising for the Woolverstone Wish Appeal, to help refurbish the chemotherapy outpatient clinics and day unit at Ipswich Hospital.

The charity is close to the heart of staff at the law practice, based in Ipswich, after colleague Judy Sykes, 57, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and treated at the hospital.

Staff have also been encouraged to make donations rather than buy Christmas cards this year, which has raised hundreds of pounds. The total now stands at £7,287.26 and the charity has said that is delighted.

Cheryl Thayer, chairman of the Woolverstone Wish appeal committee, said: “I’m just absolutely amazed by the amount raised. It’s through people like Kerseys solicitors, who have taken the Woolverstone Wish appeal to heart, that we will be able to reach our target. This will make a huge difference.”

The charity has raised £575,704 to date and has a target of £800,000.

Sharon Wragg, 45, a conveyancing executive at Kerseys, said: “This is amazing and I’m so proud of the team at Kerseys for getting behind this with so much energy and enthusiasm.

“Most of us have been touched by cancer in some way and the hospital does such great work. But it needs financial help to provide a more private and comfortable environment to ensure every patient is afforded their dignity.

“I am already thinking about options for fundraising opportunities in 2014.”

Earlier in the year she helped organise a world-record breaker for the largest number of fairies gathered in one place.

This alone raised more than £2,000 for the charity.

Kerseys staff and partners have also taken part in a variety of other events supporting the charity, including dress-down days on the last Friday of every month, sponsorship of an auction and charity ball and taking part in the National Three Peaks Challenge.