SPLOSH abseil for Paul Rice raises thousands

Members of Liverpool's business community raised more than £7,000 abseiling down One St Paul's Square in the commercial district last week.

Law firm Hill Dickinson decided to use its premises in St Paul's Square for the abseil and organised it with Life Survival to raise money for Hill Dickinson's nominated charities, whose funds are managed by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, and SPLOSH, the charity founded by the late Paul Rice, former chief executive of the Commercial District Business Improvement District who died after an 18-month battle with blood cancer earlier this year.

As well as a significant number of Hill Dickinson employees, staff from organisations including Franklins Deli, Clarity Creation, Liverpool Vision, Kenyon Fraser, Hard Day's Night Hotel, the National Blood Service, the Addy Consultancy, Sainsbury's and Weir and Charmichael undertook the 120-foot vertical descent. In total 82 people took part and raised £7,000 for the two charities.

Andrew Rushworth, HR director of Hill Dickinson, said: "We were really impressed with the number of people brave enough to do the abseil which will raise money for two thoroughly deserving charities. There was a great atmosphere in the square and it was wonderful to see the city's business community getting behind the event and giving such strong support for their colleagues."

SPLOSH – Staff, Patients and Loved Ones supporting Haematology – was set up by Paul Rice to raise funds to help people who need the care and support of the dedicated staff who work at the Haematology Department at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

The Community Foundation for Merseyside distributes funds across the region designed to improve the quality of life for people in some of its most disadvantaged areas. The foundation promotes philanthropy, facilitates grants and is committed to implementing positive social change.

The abseil was organised by Life Survival, an organisation that specialises in outdoor teambuilding corporate and charity events.