Key members of the gardening industry will join together to raise money by taking part in a 20-mile sponsored walk along the Thames path through the centre of London.
The walk, which takes place on Garden Re-Leaf Day (March 27) itself, will start at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre near Sidcup at 8am. From there, the walkers take the Thames Path and finish at Clifton Nurseries in Paddington, central London.
Glee Event Manager Matthew Mein is organising the walk, and will be joined by his team from i2i Events. GIMA Director Vicky Nuttall, Will Armitage and Iain Wylie (GCA) and Martin Simmons (HTA), Trevor Pfeiffer (GTN), Sarah Cosgrove (Horticulture Week), Craig Hall (Deco-Pak), Chris Houfe (Great British Cards), Mark Long (Paperhouse), Ian Flounders and Richard Newton (Woodlodge) will also take part. Kimberley Hornby and Robbie Cumming from Whitefoot PR will be getting their boots on too, joined by a member of the Greenfingers team.
How you can get involved
Each participant is aiming to raise £500 each in the run up to the event. If you think you're up for a challenge and want to do something for Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf this year then this could be your chance - email sarah@greenfingerscharity.org.uk for more details.
It doesn't matter if you can't make the walk -you can still sponsor others who will be in touch with details on how to do so. All proceeds from the money raised will go directly to the Rosy Cheeks campaign, a Greenfingers initiative which aims to raise £750,000 over a two year period to build at least ten more gardens at children’s hospices across the country.
Other ways to support Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf day
Get planting - The week before Easter will be crucial this year, so why not kick the season off with growing related events, teach kids to sow cress heads or sunflowers or even host a gardening related games.
Get baking - As popular as ever, baking is also a fantastic way of raising money. Bake offs, cake sales, coffee mornings - all are accessible ideas and a great way to promote your cafe too.
Get sporty - Walking the Thames Path is a great way to get fit and raise money at the same time. But you don't have to leave your office or even the shopfloor - plan out a route and use an exercise bike or a treadmill to run, walk or cycle between 'destinations' such as other garden centres or famous landmarks.
Get thinking - This year's quiz has experts from Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time to give it an extra air of authority. Why not challenge gardening club members to get involved and host as an evening event?
Get selling - selling products under the Loose Change promotion is perhaps the simplest way to support Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day. Buy or involve your favourite suppliers to purchase Garden Re-Leaf coin stickers - as many as you would like – in 50p or £1 denominations and affix to any product either at point of production or in-store.
There are hundreds of other ways for everyone to raise money on 27th March 2015 - just visit www.gardenreleaf.co.uk/ or email info@gardenreleaf.co.uk for a free pack full of fundraising ideas.
