York colleagues take on 13-mile charity walk in memory of much-loved friend

Staff from Sandburn Hall and Griffon Forest will take on a 13.5-mile journey from Flaxton to St Leonard’s Hospice in tribute to head greenkeeper Andy (Image: St Leonard's Hospice)

A team of 20 colleagues in York are lacing up their boots for a charity walk in memory of a much-loved friend.

Staff from Sandburn Hall and Griffon Forest will take on a 13.5-mile journey from Flaxton to St Leonard’s Hospice on Sunday, October 4, in tribute to Sandburn Hall’s head greenkeeper Andy, who died in August 2025 and was cared for by the hospice.

The walk, organised by Sandburn Hall’s sales and marketing director Sarah Balding and golf sales manager Nathalie Hewer, was inspired by Andy’s final wish to fundraise for St Leonard’s Hospice.

Ms Balding and Ms Hewer said: "It was Andy’s wish that we fundraise for St Leonard’s Hospice after the team there provided such exceptional care to him.

"After discussing the different possibilities, we decided that this walk would be a fitting way to honour his memory."

The group will set off at 8am from the Greenkeepers’ Shed and expect the walk to take around seven hours.

Ms Balding added: "Andy was such a big part of Sandburn Hall.

"He took over the Head Greenkeeper’s role from his dad and worked with us for 23 years, so he really was like family."

Alice Howard, Business Partnerships Fundraiser at St Leonard’s Hospice, said: "We’re incredibly grateful to the team for helping current and future patients, families and carers in Andy’s memory."

To support the challenge and help the team hit its £1,000 target, donations can be made via the team’s JustGiving page at justgiving.com/page/sandburn-hall-team.