A fantastic day of fundraising and walking across the fens and through the iconic city of Cambridge saw 105 walkers and runners, some in fancy dress, raise a record breaking £22.5k on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2017.
Sponsored by Scotsdales, staff at their Horningsea garden centre worked hard to ensure the event started with a hoot and a cheer creating specially designed banners and balloon displays all of which added to a great atmosphere. Cutting the ribbon to start the walk, Garden Re-Leaf Day founder and Greenfingers Trustee Boyd Douglas Davies, along with Glee's Matthew Mein who masterminded the first Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk in 2015, then headed off to complete the 20 mile route.
With support along the route from vehicles sponsored by Cadix Ltd, Quinton Edwards and Town & Country's Mark Butler and welcome refreshment points sponsored by SBM Life Science, the walkers were kept motivated as they faced bracing wind and chilly conditions.
Cherry tomato runner Heidi Towse was the first 10 mile runner to complete the route in under 1 hour 45mins before going on to row 13 miles to make up an impressive duathlon. Alongside Heidi, the Scotsdales team at Great Shelford clocked up the miles on a static bike as they collected money for Greenfingers Charity.
Despite taking a wrong turning, Team Elho was the first 20 mile runners in, closely followed by Matthew Mein and Briers Matt Jackson. Lead 20 mile walkers, Simon Quinton Smith and Great British Cards Chris Houfe set a blistering pace, collecting their medals looking fresh and confident, closely followed by Gardenstores Paul Williams.
Completing the walk, Boyd Douglas Davies said: "What a great day, and what an Incredible turnout - the industry, Scotsdales and the Greenfingers team did us proud! Matt Mein, I take my hat off to, brilliant idea and incredible that he ran it! Chris Houfe and Simon Quinton Smith - who'd have thought it! Little did I know when I set off with them that they were both speed walkers. What an incredible Pace, blistering is the only word! I'm chuffed to bits with the event, the spirit, the amount raised and my own result...8th, just 5 minutes behind the lead walkers...and I ache like mad"
Goody bags sponsored by Hozelock and Briers and SBM Life Science, who also sponsored the medals along with a welcome barbecue sponsored by LOFA and Outback.greeted the walkers at the finish point. Other event sponsors included GIMA and Kelkay.
See the gallery of photos frome the event below and watch out for a special Garden Re-Leaf Day issue later this week - please send us pictures from you own events.
Eds footnote: Sorry the pictures are not in order and that this report is late being published. The walk was a truly blistering experience for me and I've discovered they don't make blister plasters big enough if you carry on walking for 12 miles after the blisters start. That and our systems being down yesterday are my hopeless excuses, but what a privilege to be a part of a really great event and to do my part to raise funds for Greenfingers. Bring on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2018!! By the way our Labradoodles were only just getting started by the time we'd done 20 miles, they just got quite bored as I was walking sooo slow for the last 3 miles...
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC274.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC275.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC276.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC277.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC278.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC279.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC280.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC281.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC282.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GFC283.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN001.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN002.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN003.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN004.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN005.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN006.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN007.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN008.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN009.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN010.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN011.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN012.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN013.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN014.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN015.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN016.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN017.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN018.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN019.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN020.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN021.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN022.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN023.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN024.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN025.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN026.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN027.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN028.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN029.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN030.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN031.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN032.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN033.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN034.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN035.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN036.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN037.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN038.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN039.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN040.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN041.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN042.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN043.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN044.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN045.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN046.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN047.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN048.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN049.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN050.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN051.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN052.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN053.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN054.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN055.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN056.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN057.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN058.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN059.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN060.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN061.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN062.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN063.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN064.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN065.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN066.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN067.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN068.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN069.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN070.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN071.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN072.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN073.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN074.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN075.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN076.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN077.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN078.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN079.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN080.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN081.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN082.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN083.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN084.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN085.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN086.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN087.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN088.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN089.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN090.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN091.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN092.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN093.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN094.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN095.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN096.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN097.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN098.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN099.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN100.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN101.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN102.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN103.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN104.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN105.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN106.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN107.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN108.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN109.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN110.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN111.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN112.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN113.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN114.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN115.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN116.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN117.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN118.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN119.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN120.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN121.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN122.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN123.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN124.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN125.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN126.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN127.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN128.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN129.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN130.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN131.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN132.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN133.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN134.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN135.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN136.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN137.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN138.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN139.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN140.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN141.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN142.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN143.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_GTN144.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW145.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW146.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW147.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW148.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW149.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW150.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW151.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW152.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW153.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW154.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW155.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW156.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW157.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW158.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW159.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW160.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW161.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW162.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW163.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW164.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW165.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW166.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW167.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW168.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW169.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW170.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW171.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW172.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW173.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW174.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW175.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW176.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW177.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW178.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW179.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW180.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW181.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW182.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW183.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW184.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW185.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW186.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW187.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW188.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW189.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW190.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW191.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW192.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW193.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW194.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW195.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW196.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW197.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW198.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW199.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW208.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW209.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW210.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW211.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW212.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW213.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW214.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW215.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW216.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW217.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW218.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW219.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW220.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW221.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 170317_PWW222.jpg
<
>
GRLD Walk 190317_GFC269.jpg