The evening began at Suitcases, where seven GoodGymers gathered before heading to Princes Park. Sophie, who was leading the run, welcomed everyone and gave a particularly warm welcome to our two new members, Matt and Charles, before the group set off.

With Sophie leading the way, seven members ran to the task while the others made their way to the park separately. By the time everyone arrived, 13 GoodGymers were together and ready for another GoodGym session.

After a few introductions, Kate from Friends of Princes Park welcomed the group and talked us through the evening’s task, along with the important safety points before we got started.

Our work was centred around the paths near the island and the Nelson Mandela Memorial. The task involved trimming back overgrown trees and branches, raking leaves and debris, clearing grass and vegetation, and brushing the paths. It was satisfying to see the difference as we worked along the paths, making them clearer, tidier and more accessible for park visitors.

The shorter days and darker evenings also reminded us that summer is now behind us. It was a timely opportunity to check our headtorches and running lights, recharge them and make sure they were ready for the darker months ahead, and, of course, we put them to good use during the evening.

There was a wonderfully relaxed and friendly atmosphere throughout the session. Everyone worked together, chatted along the way and happily got stuck into the task. The combination of practical work, fresh air and good company made the evening pass quickly.

Moonraking beneath the night sky

Then came one of those little moments that made the evening memorable.

As we worked, the moon rose beautifully above Princes Park, illuminating the evening sky. With our rakes in hand and the moon shining overhead, we had come to clear the paths but it felt as though we were Moonraking beneath the night sky.

It was a fitting name for an evening that brought together community work, exercise and a beautiful autumn sky. Sometimes it is the simplest moments that make a GoodGym session particularly special.

There was another reason to celebrate too: Dinacompleted her 10th GoodGym session! A fantastic milestone, congratulations, Dina!

It was a wonderful evening of running, volunteering, friendship and community spirit, with a little moonlight magic along the way.

A very warm welcome to Mattand Charles, congratulations to Dina on reaching her 10th session, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to the evening. And, of course, thank you to Friends of Princes Park for giving us the opportunity to help care for this much-loved community space.

Thirteen GoodGymers, a few rakes, a beautiful moon and one memorable evening of Moonraking.

Dike, Fred, Bekah and I walked together to the task where we met new member Erin - welcome Erin! Today also marked Fred's 5th task - well done Fred! We did introductions and then got more information about the task. The task was to weed and tidy the paving area around the gravestone of Kitty (Catharine) Wilkinson (née Seaward) (1786-1860). Kitty Wilkinson was a pioneer in public hygiene - responsible for developing the first combined public wash house and public baths in the UK (right here in Liverpool) helping to stem the outbreak of cholera during the 19th century. In Liverpool in 1832, she opened up her house so that neighbours could use her boiler (the only one in the neighbourhood) to wash and disinfect their clothes and bedding - this would become the blueprint for the the first official wash house and public baths opened in Liverpool on Frederick Street in 1842. This saved many lives and educated many on public health. Her gravestone reads: “Indefatigable and selfdenying. She was the Widows Friend: the support of the Orphan, the Fearless and Unwearied Nurse of the Sick: the Originator of the Baths and Wash houses for the Poor. It is apt that there are many tributes around the city to Kitty recognising her significant contributions. Some include: - The Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science at Liverpool John Moores University will soon be housed in the "Kitty Wilkinson Building" - Liverpool Hope University has a halls of residence - There is a marble statue of her in St George's Hall (the first women to be honoured in this way). - Kitty's Laundrette is a not-for-profit community Laundrette in Everton

We split up into two groups. Dike, Fred and Bekah worked on tidying the edges of grass around the pathway leading to Kitty's gravestone while Erin and I weeded the groves in between. Erin made super light work of the main section of the task so we moved outwards to cover wider ground. Dike, Fred and Bekah made the edges very neat and tidy and also supported the sweep up of grass and weeds removed. Well done everyone! We cleared far more than we expected and all before the rain set in!

I believe Kitty would often talk about the importance of supporting her neigbours and community and it was while we were doing this task that we had a lovely visitor from Liverpool City Council say hello and thank Goodgym for all its efforts in the community. Community and connection are always the words that come to mind when I think about goodgym.

Goodgym met up this Monday to help once again with the friendly team at Friends of Princes Park. After a round of introductions, we also decided to celebrate some less commonly marked milestones including 85 and 15 tasks with goodgym. Some might say it's important to celebrate achievements at any stage.

We split into two groups. One group went off to water some young trees much in need of a drink in this drought. Princes Park has recently planted hundreds of new trees, including several cherry trees which were a gift from the Japanese embassy. Our efforts today will hopefully transform Princes Park into a beautiful Oasis!

Group two set off to weed a wall which was overgrown with grass and brambles. Little by little we managed to cut back the growth on top and pull our the weeds in the wall which made it much tidier for passers by. In supersonic speed, we cleared the path on both sides and transformed a weedy wall into Wonderwall!

Afterwards Goodgym slid away into the evening until next time.

The weather looked like it was threatening to rain as Liam and Vikky met at the Hope Street suitcases, but luckily the downpour held off. ensuring they didn't bother arrive drenched following their run to the task.

Upon arrival, the team grew to seven strong as they met Bekah, Sallyann, Miriam, Dike and Laura. Armed with tools and ready to roll, the group got straight to work tackling the out of control weeds in both the front car park and along the driveway running down the side of the building.

It was no easy task, with one particular section requiring all of our weed destroying skills. Through great teamwork however, every single overgrown patch was defeated. By the time the session wrapped up, the green bin was overflowing with weeds, leaving the area looking neat, tidy, and welcoming.

A lovely task to start the week, swift run, great company, and a very satisfying result for a hugely important local charity!

The summer sun certainly made its presence known this Saturday, and the soaring temperatures persuaded many to enjoy a slower start to the weekend. But for a small and determined group of us, the heat was simply another challenge to embrace. Dike, Suren and I laced up our running shoes and headed to Princes Park, looking forward to another Saturday with our Parkrun family, and, of course, another Sticker Saturday.

Every Parkrun tells a different story, and today's wasn't about numbers or personal bests. It was about showing up, encouraging one another, and celebrating the community spirit that makes Princes Park so special.

While we took the course, Steph proudly stepped into her much-appreciated role as our Sticker Guardian, welcoming everyone from the lodge with her usual warmth, positivity, and a well-earned post-run breakfast. On a day like today, cold water truly beats the heat, and those simple moments, a refreshing drink, good food, plenty of laughter, and great company, became the real rewards of the morning.

One of the greatest joys of Princes Parkrun is knowing that no one is ever truly running alone. A heartfelt thank you to Kate and the wonderful Friends of Princes Park, whose cheerful encouragement reminded us that support doesn't always come from those running beside you. Sometimes, the loudest motivation comes from those waiting with a smile, a kind word, and unwavering encouragement. Their generosity creates a genuine sense of belonging, friendship, and community that stretches far beyond the finish funnel.

That same spirit is at the heart of GoodGym. Our presence at Parkrun reflects what GoodGym is all about: promoting health and wellbeing through physical activity while building stronger, more connected communities. We run to keep ourselves healthy, but we also run to support others, volunteer our time, and give something back to the places we call home.

At GoodGym, we believe that positive change begins with action. We don't need grand speeches to show our values because our actions speak for themselves. Every run, every community mission, every volunteer hour, every helping hand, and every word of encouragement is another step towards creating healthier, kinder, and more resilient communities. Whether we're running a Parkrun, helping a local project, or simply cheering someone on, we know that even the smallest act of kindness can leave a lasting impact.

Today's Parkrun reminded us that success isn't measured by the size of the crowd or the time on the stopwatch. It's measured by the friendships we nurture, the encouragement we share, the communities we strengthen, and the willingness to show up for one another.

The sun may have warmed up the day, but it was kindness, community, and friendship that truly made it shine. Because when people come together with purpose, every step forward becomes a step towards a stronger community. 💙🏃☀️