A MANAGEMENT Trainee at one of the UK’s leading nurseries in Hereford will this month (April, 2015) be cycling from Paris to Yeovil in aid of charity.
Ben Gregory, who works at Wyevale Nurseries, will cycle more than 385 kilometres from April 30 until May 3 in aid of Cyclists Fighting Cancer, The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and The Yeovil Community Trust.
Ben, who is 23-years-old and originally from Yeovil in Somerset, explained: “This is going to be a massive challenge for me as I am still relatively new to cycling and I will have to cycle up to 80 miles a day.
“My brother Sam and I decided to do the challenge because the charities are particularly pertinent to us as like so many families, my family has been heavily affected by cancer.
“I was also keen to support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust as, like many another diseases, there is currently no cure and only continued support to the charity will help them to research advanced treatments to improve the lives of those who unfortunately have this disease. The final charity is The Yeovil Community Trust, which supports my home town, local community and I feel it is good to give something back to the community I grew up in.
“Any donations will be greatly appreciated and will go a long way to help these fantastic organisations. My brother and I hope to raise at least £1,000.”
The event is organised by supporters of Yeovil Town Football Club and this is the third successive year they have hosted a sports charity event. The challenge will also be completed by 108 men and women from Yeovil and the surrounding area and all the money donated will be directly split between the three chosen charities.
The challenge will start in Paris on April 30 and the day will finish in Evreux via Merey and Ivry-la Bataille. On the second day the team will finish in Ouistreham near Caen ready for the participants to catch the ferry. They will then have an overnight crossing to Portsmouth.
Day three will start in Portsmouth and end in Bournemouth via Southampton and the New Forest and on the final day the group will ride from Bournemouth to finish in Yeovil.
Adam Dunnett, Sales and Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “We would like to wish Ben and Sam the best of luck for the ride. We have also sponsored Ben £100 as they are raising money for some great causes. We hope the horticultural industry will get behind them too and show its support.”
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust started in 1964 and is dedicated to promoting excellence in research and clinical care, as well as providing practical support and advice to people with cystic fibrosis and their families.
It believes that everyone with cystic fibrosis deserves the best quality of life and real hope for the future, with access to high quality, specialist care.
Cyclists Fighting Cancer enables children and young people living with cancer across the UK to regain their physical fitness, strength and confidence by giving them new bikes, adapted trikes, tandems, other equipment and support.
Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust is a registered charity that strives to make a positive difference for all through sport and learning.
Its aim is to do this by providing fun, safe and enjoyable activities for people of all ages, abilities and social backgrounds by using the power of sport as well as the profile of Yeovil Town Football Club to engage individuals and to have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people each year.
If you would like to sponsor Ben and Sam, please visit www.justgiving.com/GregoryBrothers.
Wyevale Nurseries is one of the largest family-run wholesale nurseries in the UK. It was established in 1928 by Harry Williamson, a horticulturist and entrepreneur. It became the company it is today under the leadership of his son, Peter, who sadly passed away in 2011.
The Williamsons’ saw the opportunity to sell their product to an undeveloped retail market, creating one of the first garden centres, followed by a chain. In 1987, the retail side needed to expand and the 19 garden centres were sold as a PLC.
The family then turned its focus to Wyevale Nurseries Ltd. It continues to be a family-run business with ownership and joint chairmanship currently being held by the third generation, Heather and Simeon Williamson, with plans for the fourth generation to takeover in the future.
Wyevale Nurseries has a significant product range and is regularly introducing new plants. It offers a large variety of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants to garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners.
For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk.
