It was a stunning afternoon for the first ever Community Mission for GoodGym Newcastle.

We were honoured to help out at The Great Get Together at Elswick Park in support of the Jo Cox Foundation

Our jobs for the day were:

• Helping to set up
• Registering people as they arrived
• Handing out surveys
• Helping out with model-building (YAAASSSSSS)
• Litter pick and tidy up
• Left over cake-eating

Gillian went into full CHALLENGE ANNEKA MODE zooming off to pick up a clothes rail needed for an activity, while Carol Anne swapped the Hoover for a pair of shears to trim back some nettles before hundreds of guests arrived!

As Paul and Ross arrived, the park was buzzing with families from all around the West-End community who stepped up to do activities like model-building and a massive quiz. The atmosphere was proper lush and really showed off the community spirit in one of the most culturally diverse areas of town.

Top marks to everyone for popping along to help out and kudos to Carol Anne and Ross for helping to eat the leftover cake at the end.

It was the perfect start to the weekend!

Anji x

What a lift-off for GoodGym Newcastle!

After a big intro at our new base at Hotel Indigo from trainer Anji and not forgetting, of course, a massive group photo, 42 runners set off to do the first ever GoodGym good deed in Newcastle!

Back-marked by Ed, the group set off on what some described as a mountain up the famous summit known to others as Westgate Road, past the famous motorbike shops (did anyone teach our Southern visitors how to say mo-ta-bike in Geordie?) reaching the task venue for the night in just under 2K of completely uphill running- what a way to warm up!

We were met by the lovely Jill at Changing Lives who has really helped us to get GoodGym Newcastle off the ground. While some wanted to stay and enjoy the juice and biscuits being dished out, others were keen to get to work. There were four tasks in all: a huge garden clean up complete with jazzy gloves and tools and a kitchen clean then round in the main house, two groups got to grips with a communal area clean and a kitchen freshen up, complete with the dreaded OVEN CLEANING.

I wonder if they will pop over to my house later to have a go at my oven?

More juice, fruit and a few more photos and 40 minutes later we were off again, this time 2K downhill -yay

We stopped off to do a mini drill session led by Queen of the Drills Anji who really enjoyed seeing everyone looking super cool doing tip toe walks and trying not to trip over one another doing that cross-over-feet thing that footballers do.

We are back with Changing Lives next week (venue TBC) so join us for more uphill training, juice and jazzy gloves. We will be staying at Hotel Indigo for a bank holiday drink afterwards. Join us!