Garden centre and horticultural industry staff are being urged to start limbering up for a fundraising event being held at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference in 2013.
The GCA Olympics will take place on January 27 at the Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire to raise money for Greenfingers, which creates gardens at children's hospices nationwide.

GCA chairman Peter Burks said: "We have organised fundraising activities in aid of Greenfingers at the last two annual conferences and next year's is going to have an Olympic theme.

"The two teams going head-to-head in the event will be the GCA garden centres' team led by Guy Topping, Managing Director of Barton Grange Garden Centre, and Adam Taylor, Director of Taylors Bulbs, will be the captain of the GCA Associates or suppliers team.

"Competitors will take part in a variety of events including fencepost tossing, log chopping, shot put, welly boot throwing and a wheelbarrow race. The team that gets the most points overall will win the Greenfingers Challenge Cup.

"We hope to raise lots of money for the charity and we would like people to start thinking about getting involved in the GCA Olympics either by participating or sponsoring one of the events."

Following the event, there will be a supper, which is open to all delegates attending the conference, and people will have the opportunity to raise further funds for Greenfingers through an auction.

People interested in taking part in the GCA Olympics should call Phil Slinger at the GCA on 01993 871456 or email phil.slinger@gca.org.uk.

Greenfingers director of marketing and fundraising Deborah Skillicorn said: "We are delighted that the GCA will be hosting a fundraising activity for us in 2013. The GCA and its members' support is greatly appreciated."