In keeping with the theme of last-minute tasks we seem to be experiencing in Liverpool this April, I spotted this mission to get some groceries for Ms K around 10am this morning and signed up for the 2pm slot for this afternoon. Due to Mission Controls super speedy responses, they were able to confirm with Ms K and then confirm with me, leaving me plenty of time to arrange my day and head over in the afternoon.

I arrived at Ms K's to check the list and confirm a few details. It's always tricky shopping for someone else - we all have our own preferences and "if they don't have this, get that" - but Ms K was easy to chat to about the different options, and I annotated the list as we discussed. She told me she'd originally wanted 2 x 2 litre cartons of milk, but had very considerately not wanted me to be laden down, so had just put 1 on the list. Fortunately I'd brought my rucksack to help me carry things (and I'm a Goodgymmer so a bit of a workout is part of the job) so I was able to exceed Ms K's expectations and get her the full 4 litres, ensuring she was suitably stocked up.

Ms K generally likes to do her shopping herself but is struggling with mobility after an injury, and she was very grateful for the help. Due to her clear instructions I was relieved to find the specified store had everything she was hoping for, and I delivered a fully checked off list along with the 3 bags of shopping.

Ms K was so pleased with the help and thanked me numerous times. It was an hour or so out of my day but had a big impact, demonstrating Ms K wasn't alone and there is support to get her through her injury until she's back up on her feet.

It was lovely to meet Ms K and I wish her well and a speedy recovery.

The clouds parted gently, as if persuaded rather than forced, and the sun found its way through once again. It was one of those rare, balanced days where light and air seem in perfect agreement. Nature was quietly doing what it has always done best: restoring order without asking for attention.

Across different lands and cultures, people marked this moment in their own ways. Easter, ancient and enduring, symbolises rebirth, the passage from darkness into light, the quiet return of life after stillness. Carried through generations, it echoes a familiar rhythm: hope, renewal, and the belief that no darkness is permanent. The egg, simple and unassuming, holds this meaning effortlessly, a fragile shell containing the promise of something new. Yet, while many celebrate renewal, the world continues to wrestle with itself. In too many places, the drums of war still beat, loud and relentless. It’s a strange contradiction: joy and suffering existing side by side, exactly as they always have. It was a bank holiday Monday, a day most people reserve for rest, comfort, and small pleasures. But when a green duty calls, rest becomes negotiable. The warriors of light, stubborn as ever, show up anyway. Not because it’s easy, but because it matters.

This time, the call came from Care4Calais. A warehouse filled with donated clothes waited to be sorted, organised, and prepared for those who need them most. Each item carried a quiet history, a life once lived, a story once known. Now, these clothes are meant for people who have left everything behind, stepping into uncertainty and crossing borders not out of choice, but necessity. They are hoping for safety, for dignity, for a moment to breathe. It’s impossible not to notice the stark contrast. In one part of the world, resources are squandered on conflict and division. In another, people rely on the kindness of strangers for the most basic needs. And still, despite everything, kindness refuses to disappear. People give what they can, passing on what they no longer need, not out of obligation, but from a shared understanding that we are, whether we admit it or not, inextricably connected. There’s something deeply humbling in that thought that the person now searching through these clothes may once have made them in a harsh, unseen workshop, or worn them in a life not so different from ours. The distance between giver and receiver is far smaller than we like to believe.

And so, GoodGym Liverpool answered the call once again.

I arrived at the Suitcases and found Heetu already there, ready as always. We checked the time, waited briefly, and then decided that standing still simply didn’t suit us. With about twenty minutes to spare, we turned waiting into movement. A few uphill and downhill runs between our meeting point and the task woke us up properly. Nearby, two women were sitting, and one of them spontaneously joined us for some stretching, a small, beautiful moment that showed how easily energy spreads when people see it in motion.

Soon after, Bekah arrived, followed by Tsitsi and Eleanor, and a bit later, Sallyann and Amina. The group slowly came together, conversations sparked, and the usual mix of familiarity and new connections formed in a matter of minutes. After a short wait, we headed towards the warehouse as a team.

We arrived to find the space already buzzing with motion with the fabulous Care4Calais volunteers. Simon, a man of quiet simplicity and humility, welcomed us. He briefed us with a calm, steady presence that set the perfect tone for everything that followed. Inside, the warehouse was alive with activity, volunteers, boxes, and piles of clothes filling every available corner.

With limited space, we adapted quickly. Six tables were set up along the entrance hallway, creating just enough room to work. The task was simple in theory: sort the clothes by gender, type, and category. In practice, it became a surprisingly lively exercise in interpretation. Discussions about whether something belonged to men or women, boys or girls, sparked laughter, and debate. Even in a room full of practical people, clothing categories can still cause mild philosophical crises. Still, the work moved forward with focus and rhythm. Hands stayed busy, conversations flowed, and time passed faster than expected. There is a distinct kind of energy that builds in these moments when everyone is aligned with the same purpose. No distractions, no egos—just pure, collective effort.

Before long, the chaotic piles became organised rows, and the chaos turned into structure. Everything was sorted, packed, and ready to be sent to where it was needed most.

We finished the way we usually do: a little physically tired but grounded in that quiet satisfaction that doesn’t need to be announced. It's the kind that comes from knowing your time has been used well. Because in the end, this is what it comes down to. It is the belief that even in a world that often feels divided, there are still people willing to show up for each other. It is the comfort of knowing that if any one of us falls into difficulty, somewhere, someone will reach out a hand and say, “You’re not alone. We’re in this together.”

At GoodGym, we try, in our own small way, to give meaning to our actions. We choose empathy over indifference, striving to add something good, however small, into a complicated world. Happy Spring. Happy Easter. May your days carry light, and may your lives remain green, growing, and full of quiet hope.

This Saturday, a team of five volunteers from GoodGym came together at Princes Park to support Princes Parkrun, which was at risk of being cancelled. We quickly got into position, each taking on different roles to help the event run smoothly. I was at the front line, encouraging participants to keep moving forward, guiding them to stay in line, and motivating them with positive energy as they completed their run. Other team members supported by scanning barcodes, marshalling along the route, and helping runners who had issues with their QR codes by assisting them in accessing their Parkrun ID numbers. It was a fantastic experience being part of such a supportive and energetic environment. Despite being tired, runners shared smiles, waves, and thumbs-ups, which made the atmosphere even more rewarding. We all left feeling proud that we had helped make the event possible. Volunteering like this not only supports physical activity but also has a positive impact on mental wellbeing by creating a strong sense of community and encouragement.

Picture it: 11.30am, a normal working Wednesday. I'd done my morning workout, got ready for the day, and settled down into work as usual on the laptop at home. Then there was a call out on the Goodgym Liverpool WhatsApp group.

"I need a favour for the Choir With No Name!"

And like Queen Susan's Horn, or the Horn of Boromir, (depending on whether your like your fantasy by C.S. Lewis or Tolkein) it summoned Goodgymmers across the city.

The task? To collect 50 Easter Eggs from MPAC (Merseyside Play Action Council), and safely deliver them to the Quakers Meeting House, ahead of the Choir With No Name's weekly rehearsal this evening. The eggs were lovingly donated by friends of the choir The Liverpool Homeless Football Club.

The challenge? Volume to be moved. Car access to pull up & unload can be tricky in the city centre at the best of times, and whilst it wasn't the weight we were concerned about (as we're all Goodgymmers and therefore dead strong, obviously) it was the logistics of carrying so many. Oh, also - we had less than 2.5 hours to complete the mission, due to venue closing times.

Challenge accepted.

Within 29 minutes of the call for help being put out, FIVE goodgymmers had responded and formed a plan.

We jumped into action and dug out all the oversized bags we could lay our hands on. Cupboard under the stairs filled with bags of bags - time to shine 🌟 It was the moment I'd been hoarding for.

We met right on time outside MPAC and headed inside to collect our precious cargo. We had a wheeled trolley, and wide variety of bags ranging from Primark to Superman. Many hands make light work and we'd quickly packed them all up. Clara showed her strength by immediately deciding the trolley was too noisy to wheel and casually carrying it instead. It was a short walk through the busy city centre and we arrived at Quakers Meeting House, where our Area Activator Ema had arranged for reception to safely store the eggs until the Choir's arrival this evening. After swiftly unloading, and claiming a little egg each which Ema had very kindly arranged to thank us for our time, we were back on our merry way.

The reasons we were able to eggs-ecute this impromptu plan varied: some gave up their lunch breaks, some had a fortuitous window of availability, and some were using the opportunity to procrastinate on tasks they ought to be getting on with (marking and DIY!). But one thing is clear - when a Goodgymmer asks for help, Goodgym Liverpool responds. You'll Never Walk Alone, indeed.

Well done everyone - cracking job. Eggcellent work. You're all good eggs.