The sketch was a novel idea but we got the picture and measured up nicely.

2 GoodGymers made their way to help an isolated older person in Richmond.

: Thursday, 8th of November 2018

Here's what Mrs N of SW14 had to say about the mission:

I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for arranging the support for my mum yesterday. It was amazing! My sister and mum didn’t know what to expect when I told them that two runners, Samia and Nicky, would be turning up to help move the bed. They didn’t really have a clue what Goodgym was or how it worked when I suggested you as a possible source of help. They were overwhelmed by the kindness of the runners and said ‘it couldn’t have been better’. My mum has had such a dreadful time since coming out of hospital and both her and my sister said how lovely it was to know that local people were willing to help out. We had to move a bed downstairs – but it had been in the hallway by the front door and she’s had very disturbed sleep. We’re hoping that she now gets a much needed good night’s sleep thanks to your runners. So, I’m adding my thanks to theirs – the speed with which you helped was wonderful, and very much appreciated.

Mrs N of SW14, mission beneficiary

Nicky and I arrived at Ms N’s, greeted by a very warm and welcoming P and Ms N herself. P was very enthusiastic to share the masterplan that they had concocted and rightly so: she had sketched out a layout of the final floorplan for us to follow on her tablet, colour coding each piece of furniture and labelling them too. Within a jiffy, we literally got the picture of what we needed to do - far easier than the describing, gesturing and head-scratching that usually accompanies furniture-moving missions.

With such clear directions, we were able to move the furniture with efficiency and precision, meanwhile being told the dramatic tale of how Ms N had needed to have her bed temporarily relocated downstairs. After lifting a sofa bed through a doorway, we limbered up and flexed our barely-existent biceps in preparation for lifting the bed, but found that it was the lightest bed ever - result!!!

There was lots of bits to move but we were able to keep going back to the drawing board - but for once it being a reference point rather than being back at square one. With Nicky and I measuring the sofa bed, P came up with the second novel idea of using her crutch to measure the chest of drawers - which then enabled us to relocate these items safe in the knowledge that they definitely would fit their planned destinations. Ms N was also at hand to test that there was sufficient doorway space to navigate through safely - everyone present had their roles, it was a mission dream team!

Tidying away a couple of books, we then came across the most amazing library room, filled with classic books and the traditional call bell system from the house’s former days (yes, very tempted to install one in our own flats...).

We finished up by giving the sketch the official seal of approval - what a brilliant idea from Ms N and P!

Report written by Kingston upon Thames runner