We are officially over half way through January, and that means officially half way through the GoodGym January Challenge.

Adam, JP, Lucy, Maena, and Monika were in Twickenham to quite literally rack up the good deeds on Saturday morning. We met with lovely Sarah from INS who had a few tasks to keep us busy. Between us, and some help from Sarah and her husband, we helped to erect a large metal chair hanging rang. Luckily we had the agility, balance, strength and coordination (plus enough pairs of hands) to make easy work of the construction. Adam was left on screw tightening duty whilst the rest of us got on with next job, which was some woodwork painting.

Over the past few months, GoodGym Richmond have made several visits to INS to help repaint various rooms, hallways, toilet radiators and everything inbetween. Just before Christmas we helped to put a fresh coat on the walls lining the stairway (who doesn’t love a new coat for the winter?!), so our plan was continue on from that, by giving the woodwork around the stairway a fresh lick. Not all heroes wear capes, some in fact have masking tape; as Maena and JP helped prep the surfaces and tape up around the edges. The rest of us got the brushes out and got to work on the edges and skirting boards, the stair rails and panelling. A very therapeutic task later, and we had completed all the bits we needed to, and JP had taped up ready for Monday, when we return to INS to continue our painting party.

There paint nobody who loves us better than a task owner who knows we get the job done, and with that we left the paint to dry until we head back on Monday evening for more good deeds and good fun!

On a cold and fresh day on the Ham Lands, the GoodGym team joined Sharon and the rest of the Friends of Ham Lands to tackle an overgrown patch of brambles. John, Pippa, Monika, Kate, Chris, Adam, Suze, Rosie, Alex and JP were armed with loppers, gloves and plenty of enthusiasm as we chopped back and uprooted the brambles to reduce competition and open up space for violets and snowdrops to thrive.

The task involved cutting through dense, thorny growth and digging out roots to help prevent regrowth. Working steadily as a team, we cleared the area and left it ready for spring flowers to emerge. By the end of the session, the site looked noticeably more open and light-filled, giving native plants a much better chance to establish and spread.

We finished up with a well-earned cup of tea with the Friends of Ham Lands group, before making our way to the Swiss Bakery for drinks and snacks — a perfect end to a thorny but rewarding mission.

Next time will be on Valentines Day - sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-the-happy-ham-landers-8ee7fa0c-756b-4d38-9748-7b6b725f7d2e

What a happy afternoon running around East Twickenham and St Margaret's to solve the clues and track down amazing treasure hunt creators Susannah, Beth and Monika!

Congratulations to winning team Anita, Adam and John who even put in a sprint finish, despite the lack of anyone else even being near the finish line! And a special mention to Rowan who joined in for the first time at GoodGym, right in at the deep end!

Thank you so much Monika, Suze and Beth, what a wonderful way to wrap up a summer of doing good in Richmond ❤️

Happy 9th birthday GoodGym Richmond!

Celebrating nine years of keeping fit by doing good in Richmond at the riverside plot we take care of on behalf of Richmond Council. A sunny jog along the river, followed by lots of watering, weeding, clearing up and happy chatting as we went. And a biscuit to finish!

Thank you to all 591 people who have done a task in Richmond over the last nine years!

It was a glorious July evening, and twelve GoodGymmers took a break from watching the Olympics to came along to enjoy the sunshine, do good and get fit. Some of us walked, some of us ran and some of us made our way along the marvellous riverside by two wheels to the Ham and Petersham Sea Scouts.

Over the past few weeks, we had been helping the Sea Scouts to repair and lay a footpath which was worse for wear. JP and Harry had done a great job at finishing off the hard work on Saturday's Community Mission, but Russell still had plenty of work for us to do, and had four tasks ready for us to get stuck in to.

Heat, Feet and Concrete

Newcomer Rob joined Suze to finish filling in a final pothole on the pathway. Supported by Julian, there were literally sparks flying as Suze showed off her pickaxe skills and Rob learnt how to mix up cement. Bob the Builder, more like Rob the Builder!

Push and Shovel

Adam and our other first timer Lynn were put onto compost duties. A big warm pile needed moving from the compost pile across the grounds, and the duo did a wheely great job in the allotted time.

On the fence, or stick to what you know?

JP and Steph were the ones feeling strong, and Sea Scouts Chris took them off to help with some 'heavy lifting', which involved moving a load of fence barriers, manouevering the trolley and loading up lots of wood, sticks and logs.

Path of Least Resist-ants

Chris, Harry, Maena, T, Monika and Lucy were with Russell for what he referred to as 'industrial weeding'. This was not just any weeding, as the name suggested, as he took us through a jungle of trees armed with spades. Once we were deep in the forest, Russell explained the plan was to clear the long grass and pampas to make way for a new woodland path. This was sweaty work, a marathon rather than a sprint. There was also a hammer throw event (but with newly shifted grass instead of hammers), gymnastics with the beam and bar, hurdles over tree roots and diving into bushes.

Just under an hour had passed, and it was time to finish up for the evening, and make our way back home into the sunset.

Well done to Teresa and Susannah for their big cycle ride down to the Isle of Wight over the weekend, and for cycling along tonight too! A big welcome to Robert and Lynn who came along to their first ever GoodGym sessions today, and to Harrison for joining in his first group run. Hopefully we will see you all again soon, although we can't guarantee this weather every week, sadly!

And finally a big thank you to everyone for behaving for my first official session led, and not causing a riot whilst Liz is away!