The horticultural charity Perennial has confirmed the first details of its Hort Aid fundraising activity for 2015. They include a mud run, a Three Peaks challenge, a 10k Run and the second Go Green for Hort Aid campaign.
Grubby Gardeners’ Dirty Dozen (18 April 2015) The team of intrepid fundraisers, formed in 2014 via Twitter, first tackled the Dirty Dozen Mud Run in 2014 before going on to celebrate World Naked Gardening Day in style at The Roof Gardens, Kensington, and posing for the first ever Naked Gardeners Calendar. They went on to raise around £15,000. This year’s mud run will cover a gruelling 12K course with 20 military style obstacles. To get involved email: michael_john_perry@hotmail.com
Three Peaks Challenge (22-23 May 2015) A team of horticulturists from Integritas Landscapes will tackle the three highest peaks in the UK (Ben Nevis, Scaffell Pike and Snowdon), attempting to climb all three in under 24 hours. The team have set themselves a fundraising target of £10,000
The British 10K London (12 July 2015) Perennial has 12 runner places to join 25,000 who take part in this event. Taking in some on London’s iconic landmarks, the course is a popular one with plenty of support on race day. Each of Perennial’s runners will pledge to raise at least £200 for the charity, with an overall target of £5,000 for the team. To get involved email Paula Sargeant: psargeant@perennial.org.uk 
Go Green for HortAid (1–14 September 2015) Perennial’s inaugural Go Green campaign raised more than £10,500 in 2014. Highlights included: Tony Arnold, head gardener at Newnham College, Cambridge and Chair of the Professional Gardeners’ Guild, who donned green lipstick, nail varnish and stockings for a day to raise £1,500. The charity hopes to encourage even more to take part this year. “Whether you cycle to work for a week, bake a batch of green cakes to sell at work or enter a more grueling race or challenge, we will support your fundraising efforts on social media and with PR,” they say.
Perennial is the only UK charity committed to helping professional horticulturists in need.
