The fundraising initiative for The Bar of Northern Ireland’s chosen charity for 2018/19 also involved an element of competition, as the various Divisions of the Bar competed for the Tim Ferriss Memorial Cup.

Adele O’Grady QC, chair of the Bar’s charity committee, told Irish Legal News: “Six teams from various Divisions of the Bar Library - Chancery Bar, Criminal Bar, Commercial Bar, Family Bar, Personal Injuries Bar and Young Bar - embarked on a gruelling trek up Slieve Donard on Saturday 6th October in challenging conditions and in aid of AWARE NI, the Bar Library Charity of the Year.

“All six teams competed to win the Tim Ferriss Memorial Cup named in memory of our dear friend and colleague Tim who passed away all too early in February 2014. Tim himself was a tremendous supporter of charitable causes, something that only became known after he passed away. He would have been very happy to know that it wasn’t the first team to the top that won the Cup but rather the team that raised the most money!”

Ms O’Grady added: “The event was met with the unflagging enthusiasm of the teams matched by the huge generosity of members of the Bar Library and their supporters, friends and family. We are grateful to all of those who helped to make this event such a staggering success. While the Family Bar team won the Memorial Cup in its inaugural year, over £21,000 was raised which will go directly towards funding mental health services run by AWARE NI.

“On behalf of the Charity Committee, huge thanks to everyone who embraced this event and made it the success that it was.”