2018: That's a Wrap!

9 super GoodGymers ran to the Greenhouse Project in L8 to wrap up Christmas presents.

On our final Group Run of the year, a super team of old faithfuls put down their cups of mulled wine and showed up to offer one last good deed before we wave farewell to 2018. I started the night by asking the team to give the welcome speech. Given that some of them have now heard it in excess of 30 times, it wasn't surprising that most of them could sound off word for word! But I wasn't shirking my duties, so lead the team outside for our warm-up...

And there's nothing like public embarrassment to heat things up! And so commenced our 12 Days of Christmas warm-up complete with singing and accompanying moves.

After a steady 2.2km run, almost picking up a crew of local youngsters on the way, we made it to the Greenhouse Project and were led to a table filled with boxes of gifts, wrapping paper, tape and scissors. These Christmas elves knew what to do and set to work.

The Greenhouse Project works to raise aspirations amongst children in one of the most economically deprived areas of the city (indeed, of the country). We were told that for some of them, the presents we were wrapping would be the only gift they're likely to get this Christmas. A sobering reminder of why GoodGym does the work it does.

I couldn't possibly pick one person for the shout out this week, you're all like angels to me. So here's to Eimear and John, Lorna, Mat, Pauline and Rebecca, to Sam and to Sophie - you are true Christmas stars.

We headed back to our base at the Hope Street Hotel (huge thanks for their support this year) via a wild-goose-chase based on a rumour of a local Christmas light war. We didn't find quite what we were expecting but we did see some truly beautiful decorations and incredible trees as we ran through the regal streets of the Georgian Quarter. And then it was all over.

Since we launched at the end of March here in Liverpool, GoodGym has gone from strength to strength and I have been truly blessed to work with the most incredible team of caring, funny and hard-working people every Monday evening. Thank you to all of our runners and all of the host projects who have taken a chance on this strange new concept in volunteering. I can't wait to see what 2019 has in store for us!

Have a super Christmas break and we'll be back on Monday 7 January to start the new year as we mean to go on. Enjoy your mince pies but also, keeeeep running! Love and peace, Char <3