Stairway to Everton

Our tremendous 10 smashed, swept, pulled, lifted and picked their way to an enormous transformation with Friends of Everton Park this week. And boy was it satisfying!

Way back in the first week of April, on our second ever GoodGym Liverpool run (to the brilliant community project MyClubmoor) we took a route back to our Hope Street Hotel base via Everton Park. Running down a staircase covered in litter, where the wall had been partially kicked down, one of our runners commented: "They could do with our help round here".

So when I got home I reached out to Friends of Everton Park and a few weeks later our team was there helping to cut edges on paths ...but the steps remained the same. Since April I've now run these steps at least 8 times, each time thinking how GoodGym could make a difference. So returning to Everton Park this week, I knew exactly what our task should be.

After a gentle 2.2 km run, we were greeted by Ahmed, Tony and John from Friends of Everton Park with big smiles and a lot of tools. Everyone set to work, in a sterling team effort:

• Karen really enjoyed sledge hammering the old brick wall (apparently it was cathartic!);

• George, Eleanor and Pauline were a dream team, getting on with the lifting and moving of the old bricks to their collection point;

• John became very step proud, removing a thick layer of dust with extreme brushing skills;

• Fab newbie Katie, together with excellent Eimear and brilliant Jan (great to have you back) tackled the weeding with gusto;

• And Mat went lone ranger, picking up a full bin liner of litter.

In just half an hour the difference we had made was clear. So much so that we were given biscuits by a fella from the church next door and a local youth commented: "Fair play".

I rewarded the team's effort with a quick floor-based fitness session, working on our core strength, before hitting the short but monsterously steep hill that leads to the best view of the city. And it was downhill all the way home.

Dear team, what a phenomenal effort this week - well done! Next week we'll be at Harthill Youth Centre, building their new community garden. You don't want to miss this - sign-up now!

See you next Monday ~ Char <3