Partners Fergal Dowling and Chris Rawstron will be joined by colleagues Alison Grosvenor and Sandra Dunne to tackle a 48-meter abseil down Park Regis Birmingham, before racing up the hotel’s 16 flights of stairs, to show their support for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.

Known as Fright or Flight, the Irwin Mitchell employees will be battling it out to be crowned the fastest whilst also raising vital funds for the Hospice.Taking place on Friday 16 February, Fergal – who is an employment law partner at the national firm – will be racing up the stairs whilst his colleague, Alison, will be abseiling down the Broad Street hotel. Corporate law partner, Chris, will also be tackling the stairs whilst Sandra takes on the abseil.

Fergal, national head of employment at Irwin Mitchell, said: “We are delighted to be taking on this challenge to raise much needed financial support for Birmingham St Mary’s, which provides care and support to local families living with terminal illness. We have been encouraged by the support we have received from our friends and colleagues both within the firm and outside of it”.

This is the second time that the local charity has hosted its Fright or Flight event, which is open to thrill-seeking professionals from across the city. The challenge will help raise crucial funds for Birmingham St Mary’s, which provides vital care and support to local families living with terminal illness.

Charlotte Anson, corporate partnership manager at Birmingham St Mary’s, said: “I know both Fergal and Chris are very competitive, so it will be exciting to see who will take the top spot in our Fright or Flight challenge. This event is a great way to take on colleagues – or even other businesses – in a daring but fun way.

“It costs £8 million to run our services every year and so we truly rely on the generosity of local people to ensure we can care for everyone that needs us, wherever they need us. Sponsorship raised from Fright or Flight will make a big difference to the families we support and will help us to continue to provide our expert care at the Hospice, in people’s homes and in the local community.”