Pictured above: Colette Perkins (yellow hard hat) of Zoe's Place with Nina Bolt (accounts), Catherine Wahlberg (white hard hat - managing partner), Andrew Watts (commercial property solicitor), Teresa Mannion (family partner) and Emma Piff (family solicitor) - all of Alsters Kelley

A local law firm has raised more than £2,000 for a children's hospice being built in the Midlands. The Coventry and Warwickshire solicitors firm, Alsters Kelley, raised money for Zoe's Place through a series of staff quizzes, dress-down days and other monthly fundraising events. 

Their effort raised a total of £2,450.55 for the hospice which cares for infants up to five years of age with life limiting or terminal illnesses and special complex needs. 

Catherine Wahlberg, managing partner at the firm said: "The team at Alsters Kelley has been looking for a local charity to support. When we heard Zoe's Place was opening a site in the Midlands, we jumped at the chance to get involved. They offer such tremendous support to families struggling to cope with the illness of their children."

Zoe's Place is expected to open by the end of 2010 and is being built on the Exhall Grange School site in Coventry. The purpose-built building, which will cost £730,000, will include five cot rooms and a high dependency unit, wet and dry play areas, a multi-sensory pod and gardens and a self-contained parental suite.

Colette Perkins, fundraising officer at Zoe's Place, said: "We're delighted to have the support of local businesses like Alsters Kelley behind us. Caring for sick children is not something which can - or should - be done alone. Their donation will help make a real difference to the families which need our support."