Raising beds and raising a cheer for Diya and Sara

Last night's session helping Nature's Haven had all the Goodgym good feels!

I'm still too full of cake to be able to type paragraphs, so I'm just going to dive in and list all the good stuff:

• We were celebrating Diya and Sara each having reached 250 good deeds on Monday - incredible achievements! Check out the reports from their 250th good deeds here and here respectively and get a flavour for what brilliant people they are.

• Our task was at the same place as our start location but I was determined that there would still be running or walking, so I sent everyone into the local area in small groups on a letter scavenger hunt. Some groups had to spell GOODGYM JANUARY CHALLENGE and others DIYA AND SARA ARE LEGENDS using letters from street signs, shops, and so on. Everyone humoured me, set off happily buzzing with ideas, and in less then 20 minutes they were back!

• While they were out letter hunting, new member Sue popped by for a doc check. Great to have another GoodGymer one step closer to helping isolated older people.

• Task owner Aleks had lots of fun things to keep us warm and busy in Nature's Haven's healing garden - building raised beds, sawing wood, clearing bushes - and we really enjoyed blitzing through it.

• The sense of satisfaction on Gillian's face as she screwed one raised bed together

• We welcomed newcomer Yesim, who really entered into the GoodGym spirit. During the task she and I snuck off to check her documents so that she can also help older people in their homes. Well done Yesim!

• Kelley and Nicola proudly proclaiming that they had removed 3 bushes - or was it 4!?

• Sol teaching us a Latvian's children's dance to keep us warm

• Nicola, Angela, Yesim and Anna's keenness to join me in various random fitness exercises

• Kanika and Diya heckling the random fitness (they played racketball before the task and each have over 250 good deeds to their name, so they have earned the right to heckle!)

• Tony in his element sawing up planks of wood

• Alek's delight at how much we got done on the task

• The milestone celebration cakes! We had a stunning Victoria Sponge and 'free from' chocolate masterpiece made by Rachel, heavenly fruity muffins from Georgeta, Indian cashew sweets from Kanika

• I made a slightly ridiculous cucumber-based sculpture for Sara because I know she isn't eating cake

• Sara telling me she is allergic to cucumber!

• Aleks lovingly making us all hot drinks

• We presented Sara and Diya with medals and I read out some poetry:

For Sara

I normally write a poem for 100 good deeds

But Sara did her 100 in Slough

Or Colnbrook, or Crewe or something like that

So I’m making up for it now

250 is a lot of memories

So let me share some highlights

Wading with waterways, collecting prescriptions

And mulch spreading on cold nights

Braywick Park, Holyport FC

Ockwells and Eton Wick

She’s painted, weeded and surveyed bats

And there’s been plenty of litter to pick

Lefty loose-y, righty tighty –

Sara is practical and clever

She was there on my first ever GoodGym session

She’s been GoodGyming forever!

When I lead fitness she tends to heckle

She’s not sure if she really likes to run

But she loves to swim and play racketball

Deep down she knows fitness is fun

As a Taskforce member, Sara does extra

She helps me and Manjit out

Her brilliance knows no boundaries

So let me hear you shout…

3 cheers for Sara’s 250!

Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!

And for Diya(originally written for her 100th)

A round of applause for Diya,

And someone get her a beer!

A big day in her GoodGym career…

Her 250th good deed is here!

I first met Diya at the weir…

Using fancy raking gear.

She had moved from Newham to Berkshire,

And it was great to see her.

She’s given the weeds a clear,

And she’s painted far and near,

In every month of the year,

With GoodGyming she’ll persevere.

On social visits she’s a listening ear,

And her smile is always sincere.

Diya means light, and like a chandelier,

She brightens every sphere.

Diya’s also a keen sight-seer,

Loves to explore a new frontier,

For a photo op she’ll magically appear,

And her selfie-skills are top-tier.

At parkrun she’d say she brings up the rear,

But that’s just her modest veneer.

I want to write about football and cycling here,

But alas I’m not Shakespeare.

So let’s hear it once more for Diya,

A truly exceptional volunteer.

Let’s give her a huge cheer,

And make this cake disappear!

Please note next week's session starts at Coop Shifford Crescent rather than the Community Centre. Sign up and find all the details here. Also don't forget to bring your old trainers to donated to Jog On.

Well done for a great evening and see you all soon!