3 GoodGymers delivered leaflets about the Stampede on behalf of Mind in record time.

We enjoyed the relative warmth and light of the evening as winter recedes and distributed the leaflets around the Dutch Quarter while learning about the Civil War, donating your body to medicine and cricket!

Join us next Tuesday to clean the large warehouse of the FoodBank over in Tollgate.

3 GoodGymers supported the Junior Park Run this morning.

Vanessa made sure no one was left behind as tail runner and gave invaluable encouragement to those at the end who were absolutely beaming as they crossed the finish line.

Frazer heroically tapped his phone every time someone crossed the line. This may sound like a small thing, but with near freezing temperatures keeping your hands out of pockets is a big sacrifice, and it means a lot to the runners to be able to get their time recorded and sent to them each week.

Louise was on Run Directing duties and was pleased to see 79 runners complete the run with no incidents!

Next task is flyering for the charity Mind in town this Tuesday evening. Come and help us if you can.

3 GoodGymers met to tackle some of the litter in our city.

We were amazed at the number of cigarette butts we found and wondered what would need to happen to stop people leaving them on the ground.

I like to think we helped people on their way into town work this morning feel a little more positive about their town, and that fewer animals were harmed by litter last night.

As well as being productive I found it a very educational GoodGym, learning a lot about East Anglia and education from Vanessa and Ray!

This Sunday we are helping out with the Junior Park Run and then on Tuesday we are delivering leaflets for Mind. Sign up now if you can!

4 GoodGymers met with 4 Colchester in Bloom volunteers to add some spring colour to the planters in town.

We were tasked with removing litter and weeds, then adding some new flowers into the boxes at the top of the high street, so be sure to admire them next time you go past.

After a conversation about mine, and AI's inability to come up with puns, and also whether Jonny Cash sang a version of The Gambler (he did) I'm afraid the title is the best I could come up with!

We noted the large amount of litter around the high street while doing the planting and so next week's task is to help remove some of it around town. Sign up to help us if you can!

1 GoodGymer swept the floor at the FoodBank.

If you're reading this and are able to help out please sign up for the next time we're cleaning there on Tuesday 7th April as with a bigger group of us we can have so much more impact on the large warehouse which is used to feed hungry people in Colchester and the surrounding area.

2 GoodGymers met Pam from Colchester in Bloom to help tidy up the planters along the high street. Despite our best efforts to change the soil and remove weeds in the autumn, some resilient weeds had come back with a vengeance and took a lot of effort to detangle their roots from the plants. There was also the usual litter from people mistaking the planters for ash trays/gum bins, but after an hour's hard work removing litter, dead heads and weeds the planters were in a much better shape to welcome in the new growth spring brings!

Sorting the planters in town is always a great opportunity for a chinwag with Pam/fellow GoodGymers, and to be entertained by the random comments of passerbys (asking whether we're digging up buried treasure seems to be a common one!).

All in all, a successful evening!