In a heartwarming collaboration, Yorkshire Garden Centres has shown its support for an extraordinary running challenge aimed at raising funds for a gardening charity dedicated to enhancing the lives of life-limited children.
Two key members of the Bradford-based garden centre group, Commercial Director Sharon McNair and Head of Finance Katie Young, joined forces with dedicated runner Kate Ebbens for a 5k run, marking the group’s ongoing commitment to the Greenfingers Charity.
A community-focused running challenge
Kate Ebbens, who has undertaken the monumental task of running every day throughout 2024, aims to raise £20,000 for Greenfingers. This charity is well-known for its work in creating beautiful, therapeutic outdoor spaces for children in hospices across the UK, offering them a chance to enjoy nature with their loved ones. To date, Kate has already run 900 km and raised over £14,000, showcasing her unwavering dedication to the cause.
“Every single day, no matter the weather or mood, I will put on my running shoes and tackle a run whether home or abroad,”
Kate explained, reflecting her determination.
“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.”
The role of Yorkshire Garden Centres
Yorkshire Garden Centres, which includes popular locations like Tong, Tingley, Otley, and Bingley Garden Centres as well as the newly acquired Dean’s York and Scarborough centres, has always placed a strong emphasis on community involvement. The group’s support for Kate’s challenge is a natural extension of its commitment to fostering a positive impact on the local community and beyond.
“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,”
said Sharon McNair, reflecting on the group’s involvement.
“It was great to run with her and hear all about her plans for the rest of the year.”
About the Greenfingers Charity
Greenfingers Charity is a national organization with a mission to support life-limited children and their families by creating inspiring gardens in children’s hospices. These gardens provide a much-needed respite from the stresses of life-limiting conditions, offering a serene environment where children can engage with nature and spend quality time with their families. The charity has successfully completed over 60 gardens across the UK, with many more hospices on their waiting list in need of such spaces.
The involvement of Yorkshire Garden Centres not only highlights the importance of such initiatives but also sets an example for other businesses in the horticultural industry to contribute to meaningful causes.
For more information about the Yorkshire Garden Centres, visit their website. To learn more about how you can support the Greenfingers Charity, please visit their website.
