Leeds estate agents raise £35,000 in 196-mile relay in memory of beloved colleague Sophie Knight

A team of Leeds-based estate agents have raised more than £35,000 for charity after completing a nearly 200-mile relay challenge in memory of their much-loved colleague, Sophie Knight, who sadly died from cancer earlier this year, aged 42.

The relay, undertaken by Manning Stainton and its parent company, Northern Estate Agencies Group (NEAG), began on Monday, July 13 and saw a team of around 170 employees cycle and walk 196 miles between 36 branches and offices across Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Derbyshire.

The relay challenge finished at St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds five days later.

Sophie, who headed up the marketing team at Northern Estate Agencies Group (NEAG), was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the summer of 2025.

She sadly died just a few months later, in January 2026, aged 42. She is survived by her husband, Alex, and their 10-year-old daughter, Agnes.

Sophie was the driving force behind the estate agency group's first Coffee Cup Relay Race in 2023, which saw colleagues run, walk and cycle more than 180 miles between branches.

It raised more than £13,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support and, the following year, a further £12,000.

Mark Manning, managing director of NEAG, said: "I couldn't be prouder of everyone who took part in Relay for Sophie, which was our way of celebrating her life, honouring her legacy and supporting two charities that make such a meaningful difference to families facing incredibly difficult circumstances.

“Our target was £20,000, so to raise more than £35,000 is an incredible achievement and a fitting tribute to Sophie. Thank you to everyone took part in the challenge, and to those who supported in and donated so generously."

The money raised will be split evenly between St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds and the Ruth Strauss Foundation, two charities that support people affected by terminal illness.