Did you know that jelly beans and flat coke are ideal for long distance walkers? Apparently they are highly effective budget-friendly rocket fuel. The cola is flat to provide a quick energy hit without the bloating associated with fizz.

Clearly, the organisers of the Alongside Circuit of Bath fundraiser had done their research. You could tell by the way the event was planned with 4x4 drivers and paramedics at hand and manned checkpoints along the 20 mile route circling Bath.

GoodGym Bath has supported the charity formerly known as Julian House for a number of years but this time was different. Firstly it now has a new name - Alongside- to reflect the way it comes alongside people facing homelessness and domestic abuse. Secondly, it offered a mini-route more suitable for families at ‘just’ 11k long. Thirdly, everyone went one way for 2026 - clockwise. And finally this year runners were also invited to take part. This is one of Alongside’s biggest fundraisers for the work it does and the organisation must be hoping these changes will bring in more money.

GoodGym Bath’s role was to join one of the checkpoint teams - in this case the penultimate one at St Gregory’s School. We clapped the participants in, took down their numbers and made sure they were fed and watered. My job was to stamp their maps to make sure each achievement was registered. Quite a few dogs took on the course, including Bailey in the photos. Maybe next year they’ll get their own medal.

After a few hours volunteering I obviously had to test the power of the beans (a few times) and I can say they definitely fuelled my walk home.

Bath has been marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen and a week ago thousands of people in regency costume promenaded through the city in celebration

It was a wonderful sight but a far cry from Bath’s issues with homelessness or residents facing domestic violence. That was addressed this Sunday when more than 450 hardy people - and some dogs like Swifty - took part in a 20 mile walk around the city in aid of Julian House.

The charity supports vulnerable and at-risk people. These include adults and young people experiencing homelessness, escaping domestic abuse, adults with learning difficulties and people needing support after leaving prison. The Circuit of Bath Walk is Julian House’s main fundraising event of the year and participants raise huge amounts of money through sponsorship, donations and buying the occasional official T-shirt.

That 20 mile walk is certainly no stroll in the park. It takes in Bath’s famous seven hills as well as some nasty steep and slippery bits. One walker turned his ankle on the way round but still managed to complete the route. They were certainly a hardy lot.

The event was organised with military precision by the charity and that is where GoodGym came in - helping to man the one of the checkpoints along the way. This included cheering the walkers home, stamping their progress on their maps and awarding them special medals for completing the challenge. It was certainly a privilege to witness and encourage their achievement.

Jane Austen never dwelled on the poverty of her time and even today Bath is seen as an affluent place. We have to rely on the efforts of charities like Julian House to tackle that grim underbelly and hope the contribution of our time helps a little.

Two GoodGym elves donned Santa hats and swapped chimney pots for letterboxes in their seasonal mission to spread a message of hope for some of Bath's most vulnerable people.

This was the second time the pair had been out posting flyers for Julian House's winter appeal and they went at it with the true grit and determination that befits Santa's little helpers.

With Christmas around the corner it was heartwarming to see so many festive displays on our route. The people of Oldfield Park are clearly on the nice list.

It was a cold and windy day and, by the end of the task, our GoodGymers had noses as red as Rudolf and a keen desire to partake of the four main food groups. These, as "everyone" knows, are candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup.

More flyers are available if anyone has some spare time. Oldfield Park may be a tiny part of Santa's route on Christmas eve but it certainly has a lot of streets.

Richard, Tanya, Ruth, Jane and Ted the dog have had an awfully big adventure delivering leaflets for a charity working with some of the most vulnerable people in the Bath area.

Richard, the sensible one, came equipped with head torch, while even Ted was dressed head to tail in hi-viz.

Ruth forgot to charge her torch in time.
“Don’t worry”, said Jane, “it’s very well lit.”

“Ok”, said Ruth and tripped over a step at practically the first house.

“Hmmm…” said Ruth to herself, as she dusted herself off. “More haste less speed - as Mama used to say”.

Actually, the ‘Famous’ Five GoodGymers, finished their task in super quick time.

And Tanya and Richard were simply streets ahead!

"Gosh", said Jane, I must bring more leaflets next time.

But will there be a next time?

Will Ruth remember her head torch and avoid taking another tumble?

Will more GoodGymers want to join us and go from the ‘Famous’ five to the ‘Super' six, seven or even beyond?

Will Ted be any more gorgeous?

And, most importantly, will there be lashings and lashings ginger beer afterwards?

Only time will tell.

In the meantime, here’s the important bit….

We five may have done OUR good deed by delivering flyers for Julian House’s Christmas appeal. Now it’s up to residents to see the need and perhaps put THEIR hands in their pockets to help some of the city’s most vulnerable people .

With apologies to Enid Blyton 😉

To be honest there wasn’t much walking for us GoodGymers at today’s task but there was a heck of a lot of it going on. Around 500 walkers took part in a 22 mile trek around Bath to raise money for Julian House - a charity working with homeless and vulnerable people and women facing domestic abuse.

It was our job to man the checkpoints - checking participants in, stamping their maps, cheering them on and presenting their well-earned medals at the finish. We also took photos and supplied dog biscuits as required.

Vicky earned a particular hurrah for getting up at the crack of dawn to do her stint.

But most of the praise should go to the fundraisers who had to tackle a punishing route in what must have been the worst weather since the event began 23 years ago. I imagine they went home wet, tired and sore but proud of their achievement.

Julian House asked Goodgym Bath help in distributing flyers in Oldfield park. The flyers were divided into three batches and off Helen, Ruth and Mike went door to door posting flyers through letterboxes.

It didn't take us long to post the flyers, approximately 30 seconds per house depending upon whether we had a tricky gate, steep path or tricky letterbox. Most of the houses were lit up for Christmas which helped us to feel festive and within no time all the flyers had been posted. Hopefully this helps raise vital funds for Julian House.

Happy Christmas all!