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. 🎄

It was another splendid evening of doing good and getting fit for Mandy, Hannah, Hazel, Laura, and Ben! Even the weather behaved itself—clearly trying to make a great first impression on Mandy for her debut GoodGym session. Welcome, Mandy!👏

They kicked things off with a gentle jog from Life Leisure, retracing their steps from last week’s flyering adventure. Along the way they scooped up Hannah, who joined the squad just in time for a highly strategic flyering discussion. This was not your average leaflet drop—oh no. This was tactical - there were brainstorming. There were zones. There was enthusiasm. Mandy even confessed she’d been training her cardio for two weeks in preparation, which is the kind of dedication that deserves its own medal… or at least a candy!

Their mission covered about 4km filled with catch-ups, stories, suspiciously timed CCTV appearances, dog barks ranging from friendly to “please don’t eat me,” and plenty of laughs/smiles😊—all while delivering flyers for Together Trust. Mission accomplished, team!

Slightly underwhelmed by tonight’s illuminations (they squinted, they tried), Laura is leading to chase brighter lights next week in Warwick’s. Don’t miss it—it's the GoodGym Stockport year-ender, and they fully intend to finish 2025 with a sparkle! ✨💖

It turned out to be a surprisingly lovely evening for Hazel and Ben as they took on the festive mission of flyering for Together Trust’s Christmas appeal. Armed with three different sets of flyers and questionable enthusiasm 😄, they made their way from house to house like two very cold, very determined Christmas elves.🥶👻

The adventure began with a gentle jog—more of a shuffle, really—from Life Leisure Cheadle toward the nearest residential area. The pavements were icy, the air was nippy, and the running pace could best be described as “heroically slow,” but the reward was worth it. The neighbourhood was lit up so brightly it felt like passing through mini Blackpool Illuminations—every house competing for the “Most Likely to Blind Your Neighbours” award.🎇🪅🎊

And now… the saga continues!

Join them for Round Two of Together Trust flyering quest on December 2nd, where they’ll bravely conquer the remaining half of the flyers. Bring your festive spirit—and maybe some thermal socks.

Five GoodGym Stockport volunteers spent the evening delivering leaflets around Cheadle to help promote upcoming events run by the Together Trust charity.

The team worked efficiently to make sure as many local residents as possible heard about the great work the charity does.

It was lovely to welcome Meera back after a few months away and to introduce our newest and youngest recruit — 11-month-old Olive — who charmed everyone she met!

With cheerful chats, a bit of light exercise, and lots of community spirit, it was another feel-good evening of doing good together.