What an eventful night!

Nine volunteers managed to gather to support the newspaper distribution for Post Community News —seven fully signed‑up GoodGymers, one accidental (borderline ambushed) recruit, and one enthusiastic joiner. A warm welcome to Emily, who survived—sorry, enjoyed—her very first on‑the‑day session! 😄🎉

Things kicked off with the traditional folding of 300 Stockport Post newspapers at the backyard picnic table. But the rain clearly felt left out and decided to RSVP “YES” at the last minute… so everything was swiftly relocated indoors. The living room suddenly transformed into a cosy gossip-and-fold HQ, perfect for spilling tea in both the literal and dramatic sense. Just when the plot needed thickening, Meera arrived fashionably late (she got lost) wielding news so explosive it could have competed with the Post’s front page. Honestly, it felt like a mini‑reunion! 🥰🎉

With more volunteers than usual (and a weather system that clearly wanted a volunteering badge), the team put on their strategic hats to plan the house‑to‑house distribution with military precision—no duplicate deliveries on our watch! Group 1, Kirsty, Jamie, Mandy, and Ben tackled the A6 side of the neighbourhood. Group 2 - Emily, Mithra, Meera, Laura, and Hazel - swept across the Shaw Heath side. The rain insisted on joining every step of the route, leaving everyone soaked, soggy, and slightly pruney… but undeniably happy little kittens.

A chaotic, rainy, tea‑filled, productive GoodGym session—just the way we like it. 🌧️💪😄

Sunday is definitely not a day of rest for Valentina, Kirsty, Hazel, and Ben! Fueled by the bottomless, rocket‑level energy of our tiniest but mightiest litter warriors, Noah and Luke, the team set out on a mission worthy of its own nature documentary.

In collaboration with Hazel Grove Mutual Aid, our fearless rubbish ramblers trekked across the car park road and the park by the Hazel Grove rail station, bravely confronting the wild world of fly‑tipped treasures. And what a collection it was: soft drink cans, beer bottles, rogue styrofoam, every McDonald’s item ever engineered — cups, trays, forks, straws, sauce tubs, possibly someone’s hopes and dreams — you name it, they found it.

By the end of the adventure, the crew had filled at least 16 bin bags with plastic, paper, glass, and metal. That’s right — sixteen. Enough rubbish to make even the most seasoned raccoon weep with pride.

Another Sunday well spent. Another victory against the chaos. And definitely another early bedtime for Noah and Luke. Also, it was Valentina's first GoodGym session! Welcome, Valentina (and Noah and Luke)! 😊

📸 Ben, Hazel, Kirsty

Dark, windy, and determined—the newspaper ninjas were out again! More than 200 Stockport homes (covering the area between Shaw Heath and Wellington Road) got their January Stockport Post delivered by the heroic squad: Mithra, Mandy, Hazel, Laura, and Ben. Mandy, Laura, and Ben sprinted to the meeting point like they were late for the Olympics, where Hazel and Mithra awaited—calm but chilling due to slapping winds. The first arrivals promptly glued themselves to the nearest wall in a desperate attempt to avoid being blown into a neighbouring postcode.

Step one of the mission? Folding newspapers one by one, because nothing says “professional operation” like DIY aerodynamic engineering or origami. Luckily, the papers doubled as a personal anti‑wind sandbags preventing the team from being yeeted into the sky by the wind. Despite the chill, the crew smashed the delivery in under an hour—efficiency level: elite. And because they apparently hadn’t suffered enough, they finished the evening with a few extra kilometres of running before parting ways.

Stockport Post: delivered. Team: spirits fying high! Stockport Homes: reading

P.S. Mithra was invited to the session as she got curious about GoodGym 😉

Credits: Laura Boldison - Run Leader

At -3°C, Woodbank parkrun wasn’t just a run—it was more “penguin shuffle with a side of frostbite chic.” With other local parkruns slipping into cancellation mode, Woodbank was the hottest (well, coldest) ticket in town.

Hazel decided to have her own 5k, so she ran to the venue first, mastering the penguin shuffle 🐧. Volunteers were thinner on the ground than the layer of grit on those frosty paths, so Maimoona was called up for the role of tail walker, aka “Chief Frost Wrangler.”

Hazel took up her post at the café marshal station, ensuring runners don't accidentally sled down the hill (or have a coffee break 😉) and instead follow the winter route like obedient snowflakes. Despite the cold turning hands and feet into frozen peas, the atmosphere was warmer than a mulled wine stand—full of frosty greetings, icy banters, and smiles that could melt glaciers.🥰

The cherry on this icy cake? Spotting Laura and Gill braving the chill. Because nothing melts your heart faster than familiar faces showing up when your toes have gone on strike. And yes, we all survived without turning into human popsicles.🥶✨

On a chilly first day of the year, Hazel gave herself a little push and arrived early at the venue to meet Brendan, the sole parkrun director at Woodbank, to discuss the volunteering task. With 120–170 runners showing up every Saturday, Hazel expected to be roped into marshalling duties. But surprise! There were more volunteers than runners could high-five today. So, in true “why not?” spirit, Hazel swapped the safety vest for trainers and joined the 5k run. And so, off she went—pounding the muddy paths, steep hill from Vernon to Woodbank Park, and questioning life choices somewhere around kilometer three. The reward? Not just the glory of finishing, but the sweet promise of chocolates at the end. Because nothing says “healthy start to the year” like sprinting for sugar. Hazel’s verdict: Not a bad start to 2026. Volunteering postponed, legs slightly shocked, but spirits high—and blood sugar higher.

Tuesday saw our annual return to the Warrick Drive Christmas lights in Hazel Grove. 🎅

Each year, an entire street of houses go above and beyond with their outdoor Christmas Decorations for charity. The chosen charities for 2025 are Anthony Nolan and Space4Autism. 🙌

We enjoyed festive baked goods and mince pies whilst appreciating the lights on display. ✨️

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. 🎄