THEY netted thousands of pounds for charity during celebrations to mark their firm’s golden anniversary last year.

Now staff at one of the south’s leading law firms, Eric Robinson Solicitors, are hoping to repeat their success by raising a large sum for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Staff kicked off their 2015 programme of charity events by taking part in a Step-a-thon in aid of the life-saving service.

It follows their success last year in raising more than £6,000 for Wessex Heartbeat’s HIGH 5 Appeal, which aims to fund a special unit for young people.

Emma Henley, marketing manager for Eric Robinson Solicitors, said: “The first event saw staff spend the afternoon in the gymnasium of Upper Shirley High School in their first Step-a-thon.”

Earlier this year almost 40 supporters of the air ambulance raised vital funds for the charity by trekking to the top of Africa’s highest peak.

They took six days to walk to the summit of the 19,000ft Mount Kilimanjaro.

Emma added: “We wanted to raise money while showing our support for them by doing the same number of steps, albeit in much easier surroundings.”

People who took part in Kilimanjaro event included Hampshire ambulanceman Richard Riley, who was almost killed in a high-speed crash in 2013.

Mr Riley was treating an elderly patient in the back of an ambulance when the vehicle veered off the A337 near Brockenhurst and hit a tree.

The patient and the ambulance driver, Gillian Randall, were both killed. Mr Riley survived but suffered a catalogue of injuries, including four fractured ribs and a punctured lung.