Reading law firm raises funds and celebrates women at packed International Women’s Day event
A Thames Valley law firm marked International Women’s Day with a sell-out event celebrating women in business while raising support for a children’s hospice charity.
Blandy & Blandy hosted the event on 10 March at Reading Town Hall, bringing together colleagues and guests for an evening focused on recognising women’s achievements and supporting a local charitable cause.
The event featured guest speaker Fiona Devine MBE, chief executive and founder of the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service based in Maidenhead. During her talk, titled “An Extraordinary Little Boy”, Devine spoke about the personal experiences that led to the creation of the charity and the importance of supporting families facing life-limiting conditions.
Addressing the audience, she reflected on the enduring impact of grief and the resilience many women demonstrate when supporting others through difficult circumstances.
“A mother’s love does not end when her child’s life does,” Devine said during her speech. “It becomes something quieter, deeper, and fiercely unbreakable.”
She explained that while her story began with loss, it had evolved into a mission to help families who require specialist care and support for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.
Devine also thanked Blandy & Blandy for its continued support of the hospice charity and for providing a platform to share her experience and raise awareness of the service’s work in the community.
“We are incredibly grateful to Blandy & Blandy for choosing Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service as a charity partner,” she said. “Their generosity and fundraising efforts make a real difference in helping us continue to provide specialist care and support to local children and their families.”
As part of the event, the firm confirmed it had made a further £1,000 donation to the charity.
Claire Dyer, chair and partner at Blandy & Blandy, said the firm was pleased to welcome Devine as a speaker and to recognise the contribution of women across the business community.
“We are very privileged to have welcomed Fiona to share her deeply moving and inspiring personal story with us,” Dyer said.
She added that the firm was proud to continue supporting the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service in line with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain”.
The event was also attended by Cllr Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles, Mayor of Reading.
Blandy & Blandy is a law firm based in the Thames Valley with offices in Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham. The firm said the event offered an opportunity to celebrate the collective achievements of women in business while supporting an organisation providing specialist care to children and families across the region.