Yorkshire garden centre group supports running challenge for gardening charity
Two members of a Bradford-based garden centre group have joined a runner who is running every day to raise money for charity.
Yorkshire Garden Centres' Commercial Director, Sharon McNair and Head of Finance, Katie Young, joined runner Kate Ebbens for a 5k run to celebrate the group's support for the Greenfingers charity which isdedicated to supporting life-limited children.
Mrs Ebbens has pledged to run every day throughout 2024 and aims to raise £20,000 for the charity whichcreates beautiful, well-designed outdoor spaces for children in hospices to enjoy with family, friends and siblings.
Speaking about her ambitious challenge, Mrs Ebbens said: "Every single day, no matter the weather or mood, I will put on my running shoes and will tackle a run whether home or abroad. Over the last seven months, I have raised over £14,000 and run 900 km in every weather condition imaginable.
"To keep morale high and to ensure that I keep putting one foot in front of the other, 12 garden centres and suppliers have kindly sponsored me each month. I'm very grateful to the team at Yorkshire Garden Centres for sponsoring me for August and to Sharon and Katie for joining me on my Otley run in such scenic surroundings. Thank you for helping me to make a difference to life-limited children."
"We are proud to support Kate's challenge to raise money for Greenfingers and were delighted that she could come from her home in Saffron Walden to run from Otley Garden Centre. It was great to run with her and hear all about her plans for the rest of the year," said Ms McNair.
Greenfingers is a national charity that supports life-limited children and their families who spend time in hospices around the UK. It is driven by the belief that time spent outdoors, away from the bedside, can offer children and families under considerable stress a vital opportunity to embrace the benefits of being in the fresh air and engaging with the natural environment. It has created over 60 inspiring gardens in children's hospices around the country and has a further waiting list of hospices that need help.
The Yorkshire Garden Centres (YGC) group comprises Tong, Tingley, Otley and Bingley Garden Centres and the recently acquired Dean's York and Scarborough. Otley and Bingley Garden Centres were known as Stephen H Smith's before they were acquired by YGC in 2022.
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Photograph caption: Matt Ebbens, Sharon McNair, Karl Jones, Kate Ebbens, Katie Young and Molly Shackleton Kate Ebbens and runners
For more information or to arrange an interview with Sharon McNair, 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