A CHEQUE for £1,000 has been presented to the Kingfisher Children’s Ward at Dorset County Hospital by Battens Solicitors.

The money was raised during Battens’ annual beach volleyball tournament earlier this summer, a competition which saw 32 businesses – including the Dorset Echo – battle it out in teams of six during an evening of incredible back-to-back matches.

Charlotte Appleby, associate licensed conveyancer at Battens Solicitors said: “It was an absolute pleasure to present this cheque to the Kingfisher Children’s Ward – the staff here do an amazing job and this donation will help to enhance the recovery experiences of our local, but very poorly, children being cared for at Dorset County Hospital.”

Dorset County Hospital’s head of fundraising, Andrew House, said: “Thanks so much to Battens for this generous donation for Kingfisher Ward.

“The staff will be able to use the money to improve the experience of patients and families on the ward. It’s great to work with local companies and we really appreciate everything they do to support the hospital and the charity.”

The volleyball tournament has raised £9,000 for local causes to date, and has become a firm fixture on local business’s fundraising events calendar.

n Next year’s event, which will mark the 10th anniversary of the tournament, will take place on Thursday July 27. As in past years, monies raised will go to a local cause and will be ‘topped up’ to £1,000 by Battens Charitable Trust.