Cake & cookies in Cowley

IT’S OUR BIRTHDAY!!

Far from hitting the terrible twos, tonight we celebrated in true Goodgym Oxford style by helping our local community and eating baked goods. In the last 2 years 2516 good deeds have been done by 238 runners (and walkers and cyclists). An amazing achievement, especially when you consider that half of this time we have been in the grip of a global pandemic!

It was so lovely to start our task in the light – actually seeing (half) of people’s faces was brilliant after what has seemed like a never-ending winter. It won’t be long until we are starting and finishing our evenings in the light – spring is a-springing!!

Oxford Mutual Aid recently featured on ITV news trying to highlight just how important the work that they do is. Demand for emergency food parcels and the general week-to-week deliveries are on the rise, and so the time that we give them is vital and gratefully received. OMA have paired with some wonderful local suppliers and restaurants; The Kitchen Collective, Taste Tibet, and most recently Syrian Sisters, all of whom provide delicious, nutritious meals which go out in the parcels we deliver. This week we delivered 40 regular and 4 emergency parcels. These deliveries helped 59 adults and several children and babies.

A huge thanks to Anwen and Martha for the delicious vegan treats and welcome to Esmee who chose an excellent evening to join us! We hope to see you again soon. A 'dedication to GoodGym' award has to go to Jessy for coming to help tonight despite being on crutches. Following in Aoife's hop-steps there!

And finally, many virtual pats on the back and foot rubs go to Rob who managed to drag himself along tonight despite finishing his amazing challenge of running 7 half marathons in 7 days to raise money for OMA. We think that you are brilliant, potty, but brilliant. Now go and have a nap!