Well done to our lovely team of eleven Goodgymers who went to help out at Stretford Foodbank last night.

We met as usual at St Matthew's Community Hub and chatted about the task in hand, everyone's weeks and also about Taskforce member Fiona's daughter who has achieved her PHD! Wowsers!

We also welcomed Maddie[https://www.goodgym.org/runners/maddie-sharpe] to her first Wednesday group run and task after her Super Saturday baptism a few months back - great to see you!

Once we'd warmed up we ran to our task location which was the storage facility for Stretford Foodbank. They needed our muscles (and enthusiasm!) to help moving stock as they have secured additional storage to cope with continued increased demand and the wonderful donations from the local community.

We met the awesome Louise and Christine who explained the background of the foodbank and its increasing importance to many local people who find themselves needing help. The importance of the Foodbank's work really hit home when we learnt that they provide a tonne's worth of food a week - a phenomenal amount and that many people volunteer who have either used the foodbank in the past or in case they may need to in the future.

Once fully briefed we set about moving the many boxes of cans, tea, pasta and toiletries to name a few.

With a dose of true GoodGym motivation we shifted and sorted all the boxes in a snap and went on our way with Louise and Christine possibly feeling like they'd been in a whirlwind!

thank you, you're all angels!

We made our way back to base and talked about future tasks for the Foodbank and volunteering opportunities. We stretched off and then talked about our task next week which is for Cheeky Cherubs CIC!

Well done again all, thanks for making a difference to such an important local organisation ❤

As part of GoodGym's massive #GGSuperSaturday 10th birthday challenge to organise as many Community Missions as possible (over 50 at the last count), our brilliant GoodGym team tackled the overgrown garden at the fab Gorse Hill Studios which is a hub for all kinds of arts activities for young people.

Massive GoodGym welcome and well done to Maddie and Juanita who joined us for the very first time. Also to Jo who managed to beat the flu to join us and to Mishy and Jo for just being plain awesome. Big thanks for giving up some time on a precious sunny Saturday... YOU ROCK!

We were welcomed to the task by Caroline who explained about the wide range of arts that young people can take part in at the Studio and also what was needed in the garden. Once we got over the excitement of "cabinet of dreams" (the tool shed!) we set to and weeded and tidied the previously hidden borders and planters enjoying the glorious weather while we did it!

We had lots of time for chat as we went and we all felt really made a difference in the hour that we were there.

it's looking loads better already, GoodGym Trafford have smashed it!

The good news is that we are returning to GHS on Wednesday for our group run to finish off the job! Click here to sign up!

After we had patted ourselves on the back, half of us ran back to St M's and were rewarded with finding a cake sale on our return. We can confirm that happiness truly is tea and cake, especially when you've earned it!

Thanks all and see you again soon

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY GOODGYM!

Big whoops to our mighty GoodGym Trafford Group runners who ran 4K last night to help at the lovely Victoria Park in Stretford. Celebrating 10 years of GoodGym in style were the dynamic duo of newbies Jo and Jo and super trooper Mishy who joined lots of our lovely regular runners to really get stuck into our task.

While we were all assembling we had time to chat about the different ways that GoodGym helps local communities, listen to a few tunes and to look at the lovely Fit Togetether 10th birthday books. Then when all ready, we welcomed everyone and read the letter from Ivo, the founding GoodGym member which was great!

John modelling the birthday sign-in table.

After we had limbered up and headcounted in we ran to Victoria Park to meet the lovely Sarah from Friends of Victoria Park who met us with all manner of tools (hurrah!) including THE CLAW which were to put to good use. She explained the history of the park, how the Friends of Group run Wednesday morning wellbeing sessions and what we could do to help.

Tools in hand, we set about weeding the beautiful flower beds and finding out more about the park and the local area.

We were helped along the way by numerous doggy pals who were very intrigued by what we were up to and some of whom fancied a chew on our flag.

Following a good 40 minutes on the flower beds the transformation was brilliant...

It's looking lovely, thank you!

and we topped off our evening by celebrating the raising of the park's brand new Green flag by putting ours on the pole too! Hurrah!

We ran the long way back home to get more mileage on our Stravas and stretched off back at the ranch (St Matthew's Community Hall) chatting about our next community mission on 21st before heading off for our social at the nearby Head bar.

big well done and thanks

to everyone who helped us celebrate in style!