The results are in for the Great Charity Balloon Race for Bertie’s Battle! Pinney Talfourd Solicitors released over 600 balloons at Upminster Cricket Club two weeks ago in a mass of purple across the sky and have been receiving balloon tags from across England and Europe.

Local residents and fellow businesses generously donated to Bertie’s Battle, Pinney Talfourd’s charity of the year, in return for a balloon and tag at the event.

Each tag was attached to a balloon which took flight on a westerly wind towards Romford before being whisked downwind to the coast. Tags have been returned from Bognor Regis, France and one determined little balloon even managed to fly over 500 miles to reach Switzerland!

The furthest ten (landed) balloons were mapped on Pinney Talfourd’s website and the owner of the furthest balloon, and winner of an Amazon gift voucher, is Anica Holderness of Romford. Her balloon, number 316, made it all the way to Shaffhausen in Switzerland where Mr Wittwer discovered it near his home and posted it back. Pinney Talfourd will also send Mr Wittwer a token of appreciation for his community spirit.

Support was fantastic and the event raised over £1,700 for Bertie’s fund. Bertie was diagnosed with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy grade III at birth and has no swallow reflex, dystonia, visual and hearing impairment and cerebral palsy. His family are raising £30,000 to take him to Panama for Stem Cell therapy, a treatment which is not available in the UK. They are being assisted by Tree of Hope, a charity committed to assisting sick children like Bertie. Pinney Talfourd has raised in excess of £4,000 since May to help them on their way.

Donations are still being accepted for Bertie’s Battle. If you would like to make a donation please visit www.treeofhope.org.uk/berties-battle/