Tong Garden Centre lent its support to a local team of virtual marathon runners by donating sunflower seeds for the traditional post-race goody bag.
When Sarah Scott's plans to run the London Marathon to raise funds for Mind with her brother, Robert were curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic, she decided to host her own virtual event to coincide with the Yorkshire Marathon in memory of her sister who committed suicide in December 2019.
The 37 year old from Wakefield gathered together a team of 50 friends from Running Fit Yorkshire and Stanley Rodillions who ran a socially distanced marathon in aid of Mind on October 18th; the date that the Yorkshire Marathon should have taken place.
"Thank you, Tong for the donation of sunflower seeds. Sunflowers were my sister's favourite flowers, so it was lovely to include these in the goody bags as a memento of the virtual race," said Mrs. Scott.
Tong Garden Centre's Head of Marketing, Jo Dales, was pleased to help the fundraising initiative: "The benefits of gardening on mental health are well documented and it's a pleasure to help Sarah and her team to raise valuable funds for Mind."
With funds still coming in, the team hope to raise £2,000 and Mrs. Scott also sourced Yorkshire crisps, pork pie, brownies, water, a Leeds Mind tea shirt and a medal for the goody bags.
Mrs. Scott has been running for 13 years and this will be her fourth marathon. The route went through Wakefield, Thornes, Ossett, Earls Heaton, Kirkham Gate, Outwood and Wrenthorpe.