Top law firm Wynn Williams has taken home the prize for raising the most money for Heart Kids NZ by completing the Heart Stopper Challenge in Christchurch last Friday.
The challenge saw three teams of the firm’s lawyers compete with other organisations by completely submerging themselves in freezing ice baths for five minutes.
Plungers from all areas in the firm took part and raised a grand total of $10,839 – the most money raised by any organisation on the day.
Wynn Williams executive chair Jared Ormsby also took home the title of the best individual fundraising effort, after collecting an impressive $2,138 for the cause.
The firm has partnered with Heart Kids NZ for the last year and offers ongoing financial support and the provision of pro bono legal services on a national and regional lever.
Heart Kids NZ is the only NZ charity that supports the children and families of children who suffer from congenital heart disease. Every week in New Zealand, 12 babies are born with congenital heart defects.
Each year about 450 open heart surgeries are performed on children - some of these are on babies in their first days of life.
During surgery a child’s chest cavity can be filled with an icy slush to slow the heart’s oxygen requirement, giving the surgeon a longer window of operating time.
The Heart Stopper Challenge celebrates these brave children, and aims to spread awareness and provide lifelong support for those who battle congenital heart defects.
In May, Wynn Williams' Auckland team took part in another Heart Stopper Challenge in the Viaduct.
At the time, they raised a further $1,639.
