An epic multi-event fundraising challenge will be launched at Perennial’s York Gate Garden today. The Broomfield Landscaper Challenge has been designed to honour and celebrate the life of Alan Broomfield, a landscaper who lost his short battle with cancer last year, leaving a wife and young son.

His family has been helped and supported by Perennial, the only charity in the UK dedicated to helping horticulturists and their families in times of need.

 A group of Alan’s friends and colleagues from Leeds based Greenspace Solutions, (now owned by GRITIT Ltd), are joining forces to raise money for HortAid, Perennial’s annual fundraising appeal. The team hopes to raise £10,000 in 2016 by completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks in July, Yorkshire Tough Mudder in August and Yorkshire Marathon in October. Additional fundraising events will be hosted by BALI Yorkshire and North East region throughout the year.

 Adam Ralph (pitured above), former MD of Greenspace Solutions and now Director for GRITIT Grounds Maintenance, will officially launch the challenge at the BALI Y&NE summer party, hosted at Perennial’s York Gate Garden on Wednesday 13 July. He says:  “In December 2015 we lost a close friend and colleague. Alan was a pivotal member of our team who inspired us all to work hard and play hard. I am determined that this challenge will go some way to honouring his memory. 

“It is our ‘thank you’ to the incredible team at Perennial who have looked after Alan’s family through what has been an incredibly difficult time. None of us know what life has in store for us and we must live each day as if it’s our last. But it’s reassuring to know that Perennial is there for all those who work in horticulture when things get tough – we’re proud to be supporting them this year.”

Kate O’Shea, Development Manager at Perennial, has helped get the challenge off the ground and will be supporting all the participants over the next few months. She says: “It has been a truly humbling experience for all those involved in this challenge to understand what a difference Perennial can make to a family experiencing loss and grief.

“We are honoured that Alan’s colleagues and friends have chosen to remember Alan in such a positive and dynamic way. I look forward to working with them all over the coming months to help them reach their fundraising target and ensure that many more families have the support they need from our brilliant network of Caseworkers.”

You can support Adam Ralph and the Broomfield Landscaper Challenge team, securely via JustGiving here.