THISTLE do nicely with this HEAT at the MS and Neuro Therapy Centre!

This is a new location for GoodGym Swindon, and one we’re really pleased we can get involved with. Many of us – this run reporter included – have friends or family members affected by MS, and so it was really great to help at such a brilliant facility.

This was also the first Group Run for new Run Leader, the Running Rector (not reverend!) Richard! This week’s icebreaker was what was the most extreme conditions we have ever run, walked, or had the displeasure of dealing with. This resulted in stories of bike rides in Mallorca, 36 degree half marathons, mist runs, Yosemite marches, sideways sleeting, drizzly darting around Canada, mountains and melting movement in Melbourne!

With it being an extremely hot day, a few of us were pleased to be able to order cold drinks at the Oasis, ready for our return

Less pleasing was the route, which took us straight past the slightly stinky sewage facility at Barnfield!

On the way there, Richard run led, Kay backmarked with Jason cycling alongside. We chatted all the way there! We were soon at the Therapy Centre, and ready for a tour around the centre conducted by one of the trustees, David Wray. The Swindon MS and Neuro Therapy Centre has been open for 30 years, and offers a wide variety of treatments including oxygen therapy, yoga, reiki, acupuncture and active therapies such as exercise classes, gym facilities, and an AlterG treadmill. The centre hosts an amazing variety of treatment for MS and other conditions, including those that can also help with gneral fatigue and recovery from sporting injuries. David even told us how a lot of the treatments they offer were also in use in many premier league football clubs to help aid fatigue and recovery. Guess they might have some new customers soon?!

The biggest form of therapy the centre offers is also one of the simplest – people talking to people.

The centre offers counselling and hosts social activities in its large meeting space. This ethos of combining volunteering, supporting people with difficult conditions, and social approach to combat loneliness makes the centre an ideal location for a great GoodGym task!

After the tour, we split into two groups – one weeding and whacking thistles, the other wiping and window cleaning. With so many of us, we split into two groups. Making a big splash window cleaning was Paul, Tracey, Stuart, Carly, Gina, Sam – who definitely was not Weed-on! Thinking that thistle do nicely weeding were Sarah, Gabby, Hannah, David, Kay, Tracy, Lily, Charles, Andrew, Jason and Rachel. Emma and Richard took photos while Mike took notes for the run report. What a busy bunch!

After the window cleaning was done, Stuart offered to help Paul cool down in the heat… with a big bucket of water thrown over Paul!

We gathered together for some great group photos, waved goodbye to the centre’s volunteers, and were off for a chatty run back to the Oasis and those well-deserved cold drinks. Well done to everyone who braved the heat on Tuesday. Even in 32 degrees,, we-ed do it all again – we hope we’ll be back at the MS and Neuro Therapy Centre again soon!

What’s coming up for GoodGym Swindon? Is there some sort of Anniversary coming up?!

This Sunday, 28 July, a group of us from Swindon, Oxford, Bristol and Bath are getting together to run the Avebury Trust10, which is a 10k taking in some amazing views at the nearby World Heritage Site. This is following the success of the recent South West Get Together at Tyntesfield. Sign up here!

Next Tuesday, 30 July, the Group Run is to Margaret Matthews Court, 4km, to do some gardening to encourage the residents to spend time there. It will be a great opportunity to help older people, and get another Good Deed in! Sign up here!

The following Tuesday, 6 August, is our 1st Anniversary Group Run! We will be celebrating running 4km approximately to the Haven Day Centre to improve the green space for the Swindon Night Shelter located there. Sign up here - did someone say there will also be tea and cake?!

That Saturday, 10 August, we’re doing a celebratory takeover at Swindon parkrun. We’ve got all sorts of ways to be involved such as pacing, barcode scanning, marshalling. I think one lucky person even gets to look after the Jelly Babies! Find out more here!

And finally, the birthday BBQ also at Lydiard Park, straight after the parkrun takeover. Everyone with an interest in GoodGym Swindon is invited, as long as you LOVE GoodGym and have some food and drink to bring and share. What an way to celebrate – more info here!