Well, me and the Newcastle Parks rangers were sorely needed today at Hodgkin Park. We arrived to someone’s idea of fun - a burnt out wheelie bin and rubbish strewn everywhere.

We made quick work of that and I did a lap of the park collecting more rubbish.. including an abandoned Croc and a ball which had seen happier times.

After that, we got to work clearing the weeds and grass from around the bench with the best view in Benwell (forgot to take a photo… you’ll need to go and find out for yourself!)

Two GoodGymers leafleted for Heaton Pride in Heaton. This was our third task leafleting for Heaton Pride and the last of our leaflets. We need to get them out sharpish before the first event at 8pm that evening!

Luckily the streets in Heaton are long terraces so we managed to get hundreds of leaflets delivered within an hour allowing us to post a total of around 1,500 this week!

Anji completed three good deeds in one! As well as delivering hundreds of leaflets she also rang a doorbell to tell a women she had left her house keys in the front door and helped direct me out of where I was parked after as I ended up a bit blocked in!

If you are around this weekend check out Heaton Pride! We are also doing a litter pick to help tidy up after the event on Monday with a cheeky social after at the tipsy toad.

Sunday June 22nd had been designated as Olympic day at junior parkrun. Four GoodGymers plus Aly Dixon, an Olympic marathoner from Sunderland, turned up to help at Mowbray Park junior parkrun.

A downpour just before the start didn't dampen spirits as the event had its second highest ever attendance!

Heaton Pride Leaflet Delivery Part 2 Rain Avoidance Plan:

1. Get up early and go out 3 hours before the rain is forecast.

2. Put leaflets in plastic bag.

3. Wear waterproof jacket with hood.

Well the forecast was wrong, the rain came early but the leaflets and I stayed relatively dry! Another few hundred delivered after last night’s start at the group run. Part 3 with Aimee on Thursday!

The rain stopped just in time for four GoodGymers to head out towards Heaton from Stepney Bank Stables, armed with many hundreds of Heaton Pride leaflets, without getting wet.

The terraced streets of Heaton are perfect for delivering lots of leaflets quickly. The best part of 1,000 leaflets were delivered in an hour.

Please join Aimee to complete the job on Thursday.

A lovely couple of hours writing thank you cards for Macmillan Cancer Support to express gratitude to its weekly lottery players after reaching £100 million raised!

It really is amazing what funds raised through things like lottery can do and it’s great to have a small role in thanking the supporters!