All white on the night - Thrive Special

A whopping 15 people turned up this week to do good and get fit.

This week we were helping out at Yarrow Housing's art centre called The Gate giving the walls a lick of paint. Yarrow provide services for people with with learning disabilities and acquired brain injury, ranging from those who need 24-hour support to those who only want one or two hours per week.

How you doing, London?

We started this week's group run a bit differently because all this week Goodgym is helping support Thrive LND and their campaign to improve London's wellbeing and mental health. We spoke about ways in which Goodgym'ers could make an extra impact this week. Here were the 6 suggestions:

1. A city where individuals and communities take the lead > Smile at your neighbour
2. A city with a happy, healthy and productive workforce > Treat a busy colleague to a cuppa
3. A city free from mental health stigma and discrimination > Ask a friend or family member if they are OK
4. A city with services that are there when and where needed > Reconnect with someone you’ve lost touch with on social media
5. A city that maximises the potential of children and young people > Visit one of London’s great free museums, galleries, festivals or parks
6. A zero suicide city > Offer your time to a local cause or someone in need

Let's tick 6 off the list

So after finishing up the intro speech and welcoming Chris, Anna and Emily to their first GG, we went for a warm-up outside.

With myself at the front and Jason at the back, we headed off to The Gate - only 1km away meant we got there in no time.

Once we arrived and met the Volunteer Coordinators Marie and Helena, we were given an introduction by one of the ladies who attends, music sessions at The Gate.

Time for an arm workout

The crew got straight to work painting one of the day centre rooms. The walls were originally a dark, royal red. Because The Gate do art classes, thankfully there was a never-ending supply of paint brushes and rollers.

The team coated the first room in paint in no time (including the floors), and a group moved on to paint the corridor next.

By 8pm all the walls had a first coat of paint and some had a second!

Round the houses

For our run home we added in a nice big loop away from Hammersmith and then down by the river, peppered with squats and star jump breaks. Well done to Helen for adding in another lap of the park.

Thrive LDN

Check them out and Tweet us @GoodGymHF if you do any of the suggestion above this week.

Happy running!

PSB, OUT