What Is The Yorkshire Garden Centre Group's Charity Spinathon For Martin House Children's Hospice?

Ever been pottering around a garden centre and seen something completely unexpected? Well, on 1st August, shoppers at several sites across Yorkshire might just see staff pedalling furiously on static bikes right by the checkouts. It’s not a new fitness craze sweeping the world of horticulture.

Instead, it’s a brilliant, slightly bonkers plan to raise a whole load of money for an incredibly important local charity. The team at the Bradford-based Yorkshire Garden Centre group are getting ready for a massive charity spinathon, and it’s all happening on Yorkshire Day. They're swapping watering cans for water bottles to support their charity of the year, Martin House Children's Hospice, and it promises to be quite the event. This fundraising effort is a testament to the community spirit found throughout the garden group.

Gearing up for a good cause

So, what exactly is happening? On Thursday, 1st August, static bikes will be set up in the checkout areas of all the Yorkshire Garden Centres. This includes the sites at Tong, Tingley, Otley, Bingley, and the recently acquired Pennine Garden Centre. The teams at Dean's York and Dean's Scarborough will also be getting in on the action. The goal is simple but tough: team members at each garden centre will collectively cycle the distance from their store all the way to the Martin House Children's Hospice base in Boston Spa, near Wetherby.

This isn’t just a gentle pedal in the park. For some, it’s a proper marathon. The team at Dean's Scarborough has the longest journey, needing to cover a hefty 68 miles. Meanwhile, the crew at the Otley garden centre have a slightly shorter, but still challenging, 16-mile target. It’s a fantastic way to get everyone involved, from the staff at Tong to the team at Tingley, all working together for a great cause. This ambitious charity spinathon is set to be a highlight of the group's fundraising calendar.

More than just a bike ride

This whole idea was cooked up by the group’s People and Culture team, a department dedicated to supporting the staff. Group People and Culture manager, Steph Harrison, who helped organise the event, explained the thinking behind it. She said: "The idea is that we can come together as a full group team, on Yorkshire Day, to raise funds with our customers for a fabulous Yorkshire cause. This is a great opportunity for every centre to get involved, raise awareness, and have some fun while helping out a wonderful charity." And it’s definitely going to be a challenge.

Steph Harrison also added: "Team members will collectively cover the distance from their respective garden centres to Martin House's base at Boston Spa near Wetherby on static bikes. The longest distance is from Dean's Scarborough at 68 miles, and the shortest distance is from Otley at 16 miles. It will be a tough challenge, but we're really looking forward to it." It’s this kind of spirit that makes the fundraising so special. It’s not just about asking for money; it’s about putting in the effort and having a bit of fun along the way.

A huge fundraising effort for Yorkshire

The charity spinathon is the latest event in a massive fundraising push for the Yorkshire Garden Centre group. The team has set an ambitious target of raising £30,000 for Martin House Children's Hospice, an amazing independent charity that provides care and support for babies, children, and young people with life-shortening conditions. They help families from all over West, North, and East Yorkshire, offering a place of rest, fun, and compassion. The team is already well on its way to hitting that target. A recently launched ‘Pennies’ initiative, which uses technology to allow customers to make small micro-donations when they pay, has already brought in over £11,000.

It's a clever system that shows how tiny bits of change can add up to something huge. On top of that, a cycle ride organised by the group’s MD, Mark Farnsworth, raised an incredible £5,000. It seems cycling is a popular theme! Mr. Farnsworth’s leadership in fundraising sets a powerful example for the entire company. Here’s a look at the different garden centres getting involved: Tong Garden Centre Tingley Garden Centre Otley Garden Centre Bingley Garden Centre Pennine Garden Centre Dean's York Dean's Scarborough

A culture of kindness

This commitment to charity runs deep within the company. The Yorkshire Garden Centres group, which includes Tong, Tingley, Otley, Bingley, Pennine, and the Dean's sites at York and Scarborough, has woven giving back into its fabric. Each garden centre has its own dedicated charity champion. This person is the driving force behind the fundraising efforts at their specific location, making sure everyone is motivated and events run smoothly. They are key to supporting not just Martin House Children's Hospice, but also smaller local causes through something called the Kindness Pot.

The People and Culture team, led by Steph Harrison, has been central to fostering this spirit. It’s clear this isn’t just a one-off event but part of a long-term commitment to the community. From the big cycle ride with Mark Farnsworth to the simple but effective micro-donations, every effort counts. Even the marketing for these events, handled by professionals like Tracey Baty at three60 marketing, is done with care to spread the word as widely as possible. For anyone from the media wanting to arrange an interview, Tracey Baty is the point of contact. This entire effort shows how a local business can make a real difference, one pedal, one penny, and one act of kindness at a time.