Bradford garden centre staff pull on their walking boots for local charity
Employees from Tong Garden Centre are getting ready for an 18 kilometre walk to raise funds for their chosen charity of the year.
A team of 11 colleagues from the Bradford-based business are planning the charity walk aroundLake Ullswater in the Lake District to raise money for The Cellar Trust, a Shipley charity that helps people recovering from mental health problems to get back into work.
The walk will take place on September 2 and the idea came from the centre's marketing assistant, Pete Casci. He will be walking along with colleagues Katie Young, Lee Parnham, Claire Spencer, Catherine Westmoreland, Jemma Jones, Sharon McNair, Diane Farrar, Janice Astbury, Phil Hemmings and Chris Hope and the team hopes to raise £2000.
"We're really looking forward to pulling our boots on for the trek in the Lakes as it's such a beautiful area to walk in.
"We've got a good spread of staff from departments including catering, customer services and retail representing the Centre, so it's a real team effort.
"Everyone has been preparing by going on locals walks and also spending time in the gym, so we'll all be raring to go when the day comes."
The Cellar Trust started life as a project in the mid-1980s when a social worker wanted to help people with long-term mental health problems back into employment.
The charity provides tailored support to help people inthe Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven tomove forward andget back into work.
The team at Tong are aiming to raise £10,000 for the Cellar Trust this year.They became aware of the work the Trust does when they employed former client Dion Magyar to the team last year.
To support the Tong team's charity walk, please visitmydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/tonggardencentre.
Ends
Photo: Tong walking team
Back Row Peter Casci, Katie Young, Lee Parnham
Middle Row Claire Spencer, Catherine Westmoreland, Jemma Jones
Front Row Sharon McNair, Diane Farrar, Janice Astbury
Team members not included in the photo - Phil Hemmings, Chris Hope
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
For more information about Tong Garden Centre, please visitwww.tonggardencentre.co.ukand see the centre'sFacebook,Twitter,Instagramandnewsonline.
Tong Garden Centre is one of the largest independent garden centres in Yorkshire, located near Bradford in West Yorkshire. It occupies a 17-acre site near Tong village. Anoutdoor plant department and shopping departments filled with garden furniture, gifts, home accessories and leading brands spread across 110,000 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.
Tong Garden Centre recently triumphed at the North East and North West regional Garden Centre Association (GCA) awards: Garden Centre of the Year in Destination Garden Centre Category; the Dick Allen award for the Most Improved Centre; the ifse Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant; the Gima Award for Best Garden Products retailer 2017 and the Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer.
For more information about Tong Garden Centre's charity of the year 2016/17, The Cellar Trust, please visitwww.thecellartrust.org.