Zest 4 Leisure has announced that Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith will be its charity of the year for 2019.

Hope House in Oswestry and Tŷ Gobaith in Conwy provide care and support to children and young people with serious illnesses and life limiting conditions, and their families, from Shropshire, Cheshire, North and Mid Wales. Offering a range of services, including respite and end-of-life care either at the hospices or within the family home, support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Steve Morgan, Managing Director of Zest 4 Leisure said: “We are delighted that Zest employees have chosen to support Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith throughout 2019. The services that they offer to children and their families are so important but, sadly, they aren’t able to help everyone who needs them.

“We’re determined to raise as much money as we can to support their fantastic work and have a number of different fundraising activities planned already. This year we have 16 adventurous employees taking on a skydive, while others will be tackling the inflatable Gung-Ho! Challenge.”

The finance director of Zest 4 Leisure, Andrew Baker, has committed himself to running over 1,600 miles in 2019 to raise money for the charity. He said:

“I really enjoy running and, over the past few years, I’ve completed six marathons. This year, I’m aiming to do the Manchester and York marathons and also plan to run a half marathon or 10k every month. When you factor in the 40 plus miles I run training every week I’m confident I’ll hit the target before the end of the year.

“I will be getting a lot of support from family and friends and people from other North West businesses have also promised to support me.”

Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith area fundraiser, Nicola Sciarrillo, commented: “We are thrilled to have been chosen as Zest’s charity partner for 2019 and look forward to working with everyone, helping them to raise as much as they can.

“Sadly, three local children die each week, yet Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith can only afford to help one of these families. We are committed to changing this and with the support of Zest 4 Leisure we will be a step closer to doing so.”

A family run business, Zest 4 Leisure is committed to employee fitness and long-term well-being as well as supporting the community and raising money for charity.

Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith is the latest charity to benefit from Zest 4 Leisure’s fundraising. Since 2012, other charities including Meningitis Now, Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Action for Children have also benefited.