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23.
September
2018.
Garden centre staff smash their target for children’s cancer charity

Garden centre staff smash their target for children's cancer charity

 

Kind-hearted staff at an award winning garden centre near Bradford have completed a 16 mile walk to raise funds for a Leeds charity.

 

The 12 colleagues from Tong Garden Centre who donned their walking boots for the trek round Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales are on track to raise over £3,500 for Candlelighters.

 

It took the group six and a half hours to complete the walk, and Marketing Assistant Pete Casci, who came up with the fundraising idea, was delighted with the anticipated amount raised.

 

He said: "We're over the moon that we have almost doubled our target, smashing the initial £2,000 that we set ourselves. It was a fun but very challenging 16 mile walk and there were a few aching muscles the next day, but none of that matters because it was a great day out with fabulous colleagues, and all to help children with cancer - so it's more than worth it!"

 

 

Brian Curran, Corporate Fundraiser for Candlelighters is delighted with Tong's support: "Tong's support is invaluable. Last year, we embarked on a special project to renovate a property for use by families whose children are being treated at Leeds Children's Hospital for cancer. We need to raise £600,000 to realise our dream of transforming it into a quiet and calm place where families can be near their children as they battle against childhood cancer."

 

The team at Tong aims to raise £10,000 for Candlelighters in 2018through a series of fund-raising events and collection boxes at the tills. Earlier in the year, Tong's Managing Director Mark Farnsworth led a team of cyclists to complete the Tour de Yorkshire challenge and raised £3,400 for the charity.To support the Tong team's charity walk, please visithttps://give.everydayhero.com/uk/tong-garden

 

The Candlelighters Trust (Candlelighters) is Yorkshire's pre-eminent children's cancer charity, providing practical, emotional and financial support to children living with cancer in Yorkshire and their families.

 


Ends

 

Photo:The Tong walkers withPete Casci, foreground Team Tong on the charity walk

 

For more information or to arrange an interview with Pete Casci,please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on:

 

Direct line:01430 871360

Mobile:07971 961574

E mail:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk

Web:www.three60marketing.co.uk

 

Notes to editors

1.      For more information about Tong Garden Centre, please visitwww.tonggardencentre.co.ukand see the centre'sFacebook,Twitter,Instagramandnewsonline.

2.      For more information aboutCandlelighters, please visithttps://www.candlelighters.org.uk/

3.      Tong Garden Centre is one of the largest independent garden centres in Yorkshire, located near Bradford in West Yorkshire. It occupies a17-acre site near Tong village.Anoutdoor plant department and shopping departments filled with garden furniture, gifts, home accessories and leading brands spread across110,000 square feet of retail space. Also on-site is the Coffee Shop, Orchard Restaurant, children's outdoor adventure playground Grass Hoppers and a newly refurbished food hall.

4.      Tong Garden Centre recently triumphed at the Bradford means Business Awards won three awards at the Horticulture Week Awards 2018 and five at the North East regional GCA awards.