An employee of an award-winning South Wales law firm has stepped up to help raise £1,000 for a local charity.
Mooneerams, which specialises in personal injury claims, selected Llantrisant-based 2wish as its chosen charity of the year at the beginning of this year. Solicitor Carl Waring, who has been with the firm since 2018, raised the money through a sponsored hike which saw him trekking a section of the Wales Coastal Path from Swansea to Cardiff, covering a total distance of 75 miles.
Established in 2012, 2wish provides support to suddenly bereaved families, individuals, witnesses and professionals. The charity recognises that bereavement and loss have no time frame and provides help to anyone affected by the sudden death of a child or young adult. Founder of 2wish, Rhian Mannings, created the charity in memory of her baby son George and her late husband Paul. George was just one year old when he died suddenly on 22nd February 2012. Paul tragically passed away just five days later.
Employees from Mooneerams have been raising funds for their chosen charity partner individually and as a team throughout the year.
Carl originally had the idea of staging the walk after meeting the founder of 2wish, Rhian Mannings, earlier this year. After hearing her story, Carl decided he wanted to undertake a personal challenge to raise funds.
Carl commented: “Walking from Swansea to Cardiff, following the Wales Coastal Path as much as possible, I decided to modify the route and finish the trek by heading north from Cardiff Bay to Mooneerams’ offices near Tongwynlais.
“My plan was to complete the 70-plus mile walk in five days. It all sounded so straightforward while reading Paddy Dillon’s book, ‘Walking The Wales Coastal Path’ from the comfort of my armchair at home! However, the reality of sweltering sunshine, sheer drops, wading through rivers and shredded feet was very different indeed!”
On the fifth and final day of the trek as exhausted Carl climbed the hill to his destination at the Mooneerams office, he was welcomed back by his colleagues and Rhian from 2wish, along with Gorgeous George the elephant, the charity’s mascot.
Mooneerams managing director, Alistair Worth, said: “We are delighted to be supporting 2wish through various fundraising initiatives across the whole year. It’s a wonderful charity that does so much for people whose lives are turned upside down by the death of a child or young adult. Carl’s trek was a real achievement and we’re all extremely proud of his determination and effort.”
Rhian Mannings, CEO and founder at 2wish, said: “We were delighted to have been chosen as Charity of the Year by Mooneerams earlier this year. Carl’s trek was an outstanding effort and the money raised will go a long way to helping many families affected by the sudden and traumatic death of a child or young adult throughout Wales to receive the bereavement support they deserve. We really can’t thank Carl and Mooneerams enough for everything they’ve done to support 2wish.”
Cardiff-based Mooneerams, which employs 15 legal experts, first introduced its Charity of the Year initiative as part of its 20-year anniversary in 2022. The firm partnered with Shelter Cymru as its first nominated charity of the year.
Mooneerams established its first office in Cardiff in 2002 and now has a network of 14 satellite locations serving a client base spanning the whole of Wales and England.
