Lawyer Brodie Williams… “I am very active and I love fitness, it’s the ultimate challenge for a great cause.” Photo by Andrew Finch
Brodie, who works as a solicitor in the intellectual property and technology section at DLA Piper in Kingston, will undertake the week-long challenge in the company of 45 colleagues from around the world with the aim of collectively raising up to $390,000 for UNICEF.
The 28-year-old says: “When I heard about the challenge I couldn’t say no. I am a big traveller and love culture shocks and exploring new places. Africa is an incredible place, I have been before but I have always wanted to go into ‘true’ Africa. I am very active and I love fitness, it’s the ultimate challenge for a great cause.
“I will trek at high altitude and across tough terrain to reach the peak of Mt Bwahit which is 4450 metres above sea level.
“We are aiming to raise up to $390,000 all together for UNICEF, which will be used to support the rights of vulnerable children. More specifically, to provide legal support to children across the world that have become involved with the law as a victim, offender or witness.”
In 2013, DLA Piper formed a global partnership with UNICEF and over the last few years, the firm has worked on pro bono matters around child marriage and human rights in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Brodie says: “We did a lot of research on child marriage in Bangladesh and found that the cultural laws, religion and traditional practices affect the statutory laws.
“More than 700 million women alive today were married before they were 18 and one in three were married before they were 15.
“The money we raise will go towards UNICEF’s Justice for Children program to help strengthen laws involving children in developing countries, to provide support for children who have been separated from their families, to ensure incarcerated children are treated humanely and to provide basic lawyer representation.”
No stranger to adventure, Brodie is relishing the opportunity to complete the challenge and has undergone a regimented training regime in preparation.
“I think it is very important for people like lawyers, who are in positions of power and have the opportunity to do things to help others, really should,” she said.
Donations to justgiving.com/Brodie-Williams
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