A team from York-based Johnsons Nurseries, one of the UK’s largest commercial nurseries, has pledged to walk 100 miles each during April to raise money for Kidney Research UK during Move More April, an annual celebration that encourages individuals to move more and sit less in their daily lives. 

Founded over 100 years ago, Johnsons Nurseries is a three-generation family business that has an excellent reputation for supplying high-quality plants, trees and shrubs to landscaping projects and garden centres across the nation. Notable projects include Grantley Hall in Ripon, Thorpe Park in Leeds, and Blenheim Palace Holiday Park in Oxfordshire.

This is the third walking challenge the company has organised during Move More April, having previously raised £736 for Cancer Research in 2022 and £550 for Perennials, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping those working in the horticulture industry, in 2023.

This year all funds raised will go to support Kidney Research UK, a charity close to the teams’ hearts that has supported their colleague, transport manager Matt Campey, who was diagnosed with kidney disease when he was just two years old.

Kidney Research UK is the largest kidney research charity in the UK that funds cutting edge research into the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. The disease is thought to affect more than 10 per cent of the UK’s entire population.

Speaking about how the charity has helped him, Matt Campey said: “I was diagnosed with kidney disease when I was two years old. Kidney Research UK has provided new treatments and trials which have helped me be able to live a normal life as possible. I am proud that, alongside the Johnsons Nurseries team, I can support the charity to hopefully enable someone else to benefit from their life-changing support.”

Sales estimator, Hannah Reilly, who was instrumental in organising this year’s challenge, added: “This charity is important to me as my mum donated her kidney to her brother back in 2015. He was on dialysis beforehand and now his life has changed so much due to the transplant. I can’t wait to get started with our April challenge and give something back to this wonderful charity.”

Forty Johnsons Nurseries employees are taking part in this year’s challenge including Matt Campey, Terry Cooper, Marcin Czajkowski, Kata Dacre, Adam Davis, Chris Edgar, Matthew Falokun, Aaron Ferraiolo, Rob Forrester, Tom Gillam, Ed Greaves, Sarah Greenwood, Harry Helman, Rebecca Hill, Freya Lamacq-Wigham, Paul Lawrence, Michael McConachy, Steve Morton, Steph Newell, Vicky Newell, Dmytro Orlov, Martyn Osborne, Rolanda Peleckiene, Filipo Pellizzon, Sarah Perry, Chris Pitwood, Adrian Price, Matt Reid, Hannah Reilly, Ellie Richardson, Paul Richardson, Rachael Richardson, Rob Richardson, Levi Riley, Louise Roberts, Ashley Robinson, Gary Sutton, Matty Swales, Tom Watkins and Mark Weatherill.

To support Johnsons Nurseries’ efforts and donate, visit the JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/page/johnsons-nurseries-1710944102166