We picked up rubbish, Sheila picked up an award!

Today was litter-ally the best Friday lunch-break we've had this year. January can be a bit rubbish, but getting together with a bunch of lovely GoodGymers and doing a good deed is a great way to bin those Winter blues. This session was particularly special as one superstar picked up a wonderful surprise...

A big welcome to Clare, who joined us for the first time today, and kudos to Dominic, who was returning for his second good deed and will bag his third tomorrow. It was also great to catch up with Anna S, Michelle, Sheila, Kanika, Tessa A, and Jen F and to wish everyone a happy New Year.

We all met at Grenfell Park and armed with pickers, hoops and bags, we split into small groups and set off to tidy up the park and nearby streets, including the alleyway to the station, which sadly always promises rich pickings. As well as the usual bottles, cans, cigarette butts and snack wrappers, Michelle and Clare also found some car keys and a bike and Kanika found £4.60! Well done to Clare for dropping off the keys at the police station on her bike ride home.

While we were busy picking and chatting around Grenfell, Diya, Gillian and Georgeta were with us in spirit as they tidied up their own neighbourhoods. Georgeta found a ton of rubbish on Shoppenhangers (aka Drop 'em hangers!?), Diya filled a huge sack in North Maidenhead, and Gillian made her mark (or the opposite...left no trace!) in St Marks.

At the end of the Grenfell Park session, we were all comparing notes on what we had picked up, when Sheila picked up the phone to GoodGym Central and learned that she had been awarded this year's Sean Coxhead Inspiring Individual Award. This award recognises individuals in the GoodGym community who have demonstrated remarkable dedication, kindness or effort. You can read more about Sean Coxhead, to whose memory the award is dedicated, by clicking here.

Sheila was nominated by both Kanika and Georgeta, and we heard from Ed Field that the judges unanimously chose her as the winner. Here are a few of the things the judges said:

*"Her nomination is so thoughtful and inspiring. Her dedication amidst the loss of her mum is admirable. In addition to her GG commitment, I love that she seems to love her life in service of others, a real patron of her community." *

"I was completed moved by her nomination and I loved the fact that she has even made her area their own GG Flag! It seems on a weekly basis that she is consistently going over and above what a normal participation in GoodGym looks like and that she is a vital part of the Windsor and Maidenhead group"

"The nomination(s) that she has received make her sound like an amazing person who definitely embodies what Goodgym is about. I particularly liked the fact that she has been doing a range of all kinds of Goodgym activities and it sounds like her hard work can be seen all across Windsor and Maidenhead."

If you know Sheila then you'll know that the judges nailed it! Sheila you 100% deserve this and we couldn't be prouder. Congratulations!

We celebrated in the park by photobombing her phonecall and giving her a litter picker guard of honour, but further celebrations will come.

Well done everyone and hope to see you at another session soon! Click here to check out all the upcoming listings.