Ten colleagues at leading law firm Thorntons bravely volunteered to have their heads shaved in the name of charity and have raised £8000 so far for Cancer Research.

Lynne Steel, department supervisor in personal injury at Thorntons, rallied her fellow colleagues to take part in the challenge on Friday 4 August 2017 in aid of Cancer Research. The firm also held a bake off and dress down day over the weekend to raise additional funds for Cancer Research.

The nine co-workers, based in Dundee, who joined Lynne were John O’Neill, Stephen Brand, Vincent Chung, Stephen O’Hare, Colin Whyte, Ewan Ramsay, Heather McKenzie, Lee Corr and joint managing partner Craig Nicol.

Thorntons partner Stephen Brand not only volunteered to have his head shaved also took the razor to his beard – for the first time in 45 years.
Lynne said: “I’m so proud of my colleagues for joining me in this challenge and I hope they’ll all wear their new looks with pride- especially Stephen who also shaved his 45 year old beard. His children had never seen him clean-shaven.”

“We chose a bold fundraising attempt for those who have lost their lives and those who have survived cancer within in the firm, and I’m delighted with all the support we’ve received.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed that we’ve raised £8000 when we initially set a target of £1,500.”

Sarah Johnston, Local Fundraising Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Cancer Research UK has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer and has set ambitious plans and aspirations for the future.

“However, progress is only made possible thanks to people fundraising, without whom we would not be able to fund outstanding scientists, doctors and nurses. I’d like to congratulate the Thorntons team for braving the clippers all in the name of charity and for a fantastic total.”

Sponsorship pledges can still be made to Thorntons Cancer Research fundraising here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thorntons-law-charity-head-shave.

Before photo: (Back L-R) Heather McKenzie, Ewan Ramsay, Leah Steel, Colin Whyte, Cara MacGregor, John O’Neill, Lee Corr, (Front L-R) Vincent Chung, Lynne Steel, Craig Nicol, Stephen Brand and Stephen O’Hare.

After photo: (Back L-R) Leah Steel from CM Hair, Heather McKenzie, Ewan Ramsay, Emre Sezen from A Class Barbers, Lee Corr, Colin Whyte and Cara MacGregor from CM Hair, (Front L-R) Craig Nicol, Vincent Chung, Lynne Steel, Stephen Brand, Stephen O’Hare.

Leading independent Scottish law firm bto solicitors is returning to the stage at this year’s Fringe Festival in Edinburgh for its sixth consecutive year. 

Two members of bto’s specialist Data Protection Defence Team – associates Laura Irvine and Lindsay Urquhart – are appearing on stage at Fringe Central (Venue 2) today (19 August at 11am) and tomorrow (20 August at 12.30pm) to discuss issues around data protection for the performing arts industry and how to avoid unnecessary fines.

The Data Protection Defence Team is the only team of lawyers in the UK who have experience of successfully challenging a fine imposed by the ICO for a breach of the Data Protection Act. Therefore its lawyers speak with authority on how best to handle a data breach and how best to deal with the ICO.

Laura Irvine explained:  “As production companies hire casts for their latest plays, send out mass promotional e-mails from a database or blog into the wee small hours, they need to consider whose personal data they are processing… and whether what they are doing is subject to data protection laws.

“The handling of personal information in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) is a minefield. We will be discussing, in plain language, how to avoid a nasty £500,000 fine for getting things wrong.”

Tickets for£500,000? Fine! Why Data Protection Mattersare free and can be obtained at the door of Fringe Central or online at:  https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/500-000-fine-why-data-protection-matters