Thorntons Solicitors in Edinburgh has pledged its support to charity 500 Miles and a team of 20 who will be cycling 250 miles as part of the September Malawi Cycle.

The courageous cyclists, led by the joint managers of the Mzuzu centre, Charlie Freeman and Samantha Burgio,  will be undertaking this once-in-a-lifetime cycle along the shore of Lake Malawi – taking a route through the ‘warm heart of Africa’.

The team are due to complete the gruelling 250 mile cycle across six days from Monday 17 to Saturday 22 September.

From left to right: Robin Garrett, Hugo Allan, Julian Darwell-Stone – Clare Macpherson, Millar Graham, Olivia Giles, Ian Wright and Ronnie Robertson

Charity 500 Miles was founded in 2007 by Olivia Giles, a practicing lawyer who fell unwell with septicaemia in 2002 and as a result had both hands and feet amputated. Olivia set up 500 Miles to aid other amputee victims and raise funds to provide prosthetic limbs to those in developing countries that are in desperate need of mobilisation.

The charity also supports centres which manufacturer and prescribe prosthetics as well as sponsor the training of local staff to a recognised international standard.

Thorntons Solicitors is sponsoring the Malawi Cycle this year, which will aid administrative costs, meaning that 100% of the money that each of the 20 participants raise will go directly towards the work of 500 Miles.

Olivia Giles, CEO of 500 Miles, said: “500 miles is extremely grateful to Thorntons for its generous support of the Malawi Cycle 2018.  Through this venture we will be able to provide many more artificial limbs and support for limbs to Malawian people with mobility difficulties through our prosthetic and orthotic centres in Lilongwe and Mzuzu.

“It is heartening to see a group of 20 able bodied people of all ages using their mobility to help those less fortunate to enjoy theirs.”

Clare Macpherson, partner at Thorntons, said: ‘‘We’re proud to sponsor this event and to support such a great cause. The hard work and determination of both Olivia and her team at 500 Miles put in on a daily basis is really admirable.”

Anyone who would like to support the charity 500 Miles can visit www.500miles.co.uk/ways-to-support-us to make a donation.