Jones Myers paralegal, Lisa Stephenson, has helped to raise over £58k for the Great North Air Ambulance in the 2024 Great North Run.

Lisa was among 60,000 runners to complete the world’s largest half marathon which sets off in Newcastle and ends along the bracing seafront in South Shields.

After being rained on before starting the challenge, an aching and elated Lisa achieved a time of two hours, twenty seven minutes and twenty seconds.

This was Lisa’s second best time in her fourth Great North Run – only five minutes off her best time in 2012 and despite undergoing physiotherapy sessions on her knees.  

The Great North Air Ambulance provides critical care services by air and road across the North East, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and the Isle of Man.

Said Lisa: “An enormous ‘thank you’ to my family, friends, and colleagues at Jones Myers for their well wishes and support for this amazing charity which rescues hundreds of severely ill and injured patients every year.

“Equipped with its own pioneering, pre-hospital care, the charity’s ambulances and Rapid Response Vehicles operate a round the clock service across the North East and North Yorkshire, They receive no government funding to provide this critical care and are entirely financed by the public’s generosity.”

In 2012, 2017 and 2023 Lisa took part in the iconic half marathon to help the MS Society, a campaigning community which funds world-leading research and supports those living with multiple sclerosis.   

The commitment of Jones Myers niche family law firm and its teams to give back to its local communities includes an ongoing partnership with Henshaws which boosts the quality of life for over 8,000 service users with sight loss and wide-ranging disabilities.

To support Lisa’s fundraising, see GREAT NORTH AIR AMBULANCE: Lisa’s page (enthuse.com). For more information on the charity, visit https://www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/

For queries on any aspect of family law, call Jones Myers at Leeds 0113 246 0055, Harrogate 01423 276104, or York 01904 202550. Visit www.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet @helpwithdivorce

Jones Myers blog is ranked in the UK’s Best 25 family law blogs and websites to follow in 2024

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There was much to celebrate this week after our plucky paralegal was among the 43,127 people who completed the iconic 2017 Great North Run.

Footsore Lisa Stephenson crossed the half marathon’s finish line in a very respectable two hours, 39 minutes and 46 seconds – just 20 minutes slower than her last challenge in 2012 and with less training.

She was raising money for the MS Society, a community of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), scientists, campaigners, volunteers and fundraisers. It supports those with MS, their families and carers and is driving innovative research to find more – and better – treatments for everyone.

Says Lisa, who works for our children’s team: “It was a truly amazing day – the people of my native North East did not let me down with their support during the run and the handing out of those all-important jelly babies and sugary treats to keep you going.

“The MS Society team who were set up at around the 8.5 mile mark were brilliant, giving me a huge cheer as I went past. That last mile along the front although beautiful seems to take forever, you can see the finish line and it seems never to get closer for a long time!”

The Great North Run is the world’s largest half marathon and is held every September, when participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields. While Mo Farah grabbed the headlines, the day belonged to the amateur athletes who travelled from far and wide to boost good causes.

Adds Lisa: “Would I do it again? Yes I would, it is the world’s favourite half marathon and even though you are tired and sore afterwards it is so worth it. I have managed to raise a fabulous amount to help MS Society continue its fantastic work with money still to come in.”

You can help Lisa raise money for this great cause by donating directly to: https://www.justgiving.com/Lisa-Stephenson9?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Lisa-Stephenson9&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=Ap9eBaynn.

JustGiving sends donations straight to Multiple Sclerosis Society and automatically reclaims Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer, so your donation is worth even more. Thank you for your support!

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on children, grandchildren, divorce or family law related issues, call Jones Myers at our Leeds office on 0113 246 0055, our Harrogate office on 01423 276104, visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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We’re delighted to announce that we’ve further expanded the expertise of our children’s department.

Kavya Balram – who was formerly in practice in India and is in the process of qualifying as a UK solicitor under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer scheme – is the latest addition to our   team, where Lisa Stephenson has recently been promoted from legal assistant to paralegal.

Our department is headed by Kate Banerjee. Highly skilled in cases relating to children, including contact and residence disputes, Kate has Higher Court Rights and is a member of the International Child Abduction and Custody Unit.

Jointly combining seven decades of expertise, our children’s team specialises in residence and contact disputes, care proceedings, international child abduction, adoption, special guardianship, relocation and public law cases, attracting complex and varied casework in the UK and overseas.

Says Kate: “Appointing Kavya to our busy team reflects our ever-increasing caseload as we continue to witness a substantial rise in global commissions spanning international child abduction and issues centred on welfare, jurisdiction, relocation and overseas adoption. Aligned with our ethos of developing young talent, we were pleased to offer Kavya work experience and mentoring prior to her official appointment.”

A further development sees partner, Sarah Dickinson, re-accredited by Resolution as a specialist in advanced financial provision. The accreditation spans complex financial and property matters, family advocacy – and preparing and presenting finance cases in Court.

Sarah specialises in all aspects of divorce, separation and the financial issues of relationship breakdown. Her work brings her into contact with a wide range of clients and her sympathetic and understanding approach is widely recognised.

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on children, grandchildren, divorce or family law related issues, leave a comment below, call the team at Jones Myers on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce

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