This report is a late one, and comes with some sadness that this is the last time I will be leading a group as Area Activator. It has been such a journey for Goodgym Poole!

Tuesday June 25th 2019, 33 Goodgymers met in the courtyard of Daveena’s café for the first ever Goodgym Poole Run. I had been in the background networking across Poole finding new tasks with head office, an incredibly new ad exciting challenge for me, having a baby just a few months old at home and having took the role whilst pregnant, even going to Goodgym London to train whilst 32 weeks pregnant.

I am delighted to say that on that first run, we were joined by Nicola and Robert. It was such a buzz and shared joy between the runners. A shared community spirit that would go on for many months with various tasks and deeds.

Perhaps one of my favourites was the planting of 2000 bulbs for an elderly gentleman, or perhaps painting in the school, or even clearing the many leaves at the church of St Aldhelms garden!

During the times of Covid, many of the Goodgym runners became friends. Connected by missing the community and runs, they talked on social media, planned virtual tasks and met for socially distanced challenges. People that met on tasks at Goodgym, chatting over paint brushes, brooms, wheel barrows and dusters, had become friends, with similar values and interests. Goodgym is indeed a great way to form friendships, with a shared vision and goal. A way to connect. Goodgym has given us a way of doing good whilst keeping active. A way of giving back to our local community with a sense of purpose. We can take notice of the small things around us and between us. Well tonight was a social run to enjoy the lights and finish with a curry. We ran from the park down onto the high street to see the Martime lights and along the quay. Elizabeth headed home after the run to get back to visiting family and we headed up to Ashley Cross to meet Becky who was currently holding onto an injury, with crutches to prove it! With a lovely evening, we all enjoyed a curry (and for me curry for Breakfast as well!) thanks to Gate of India on a busy Tuesday evening.

Here’s the stats I could find on our website for what we have achieved at Goodgym Poole:
Group Runs: 156
Good Deeds: Esther: 119 (120 will be done on NYD!) Elizabeth: 81 Robert 74 Pat: 62 Nicola: 47 Christine: 44 Jane: 40 Becky: 28

I would like to end with some gratitude towards Goodgym and what it has offered us all over the past 3.5 years. The opportunity to come together and achieve so much locally. I am even more grateful for the friendships this has created, the running challenges that have been achieved and the love that has been shared. I still hold dear the picture many Goodgymers gave me in lockdown, at a time when I was struggling so much, we all gave each other strength. I have no idea what the future holds for each of us, our friendships, our running but we will hold so many lovely memories of what Goodgym meant for each of us. On the cold dark nights, in the summer sun. Goodgym will continue in 2023 with a new leader and we hope bring back some of the love, passion and energy we all felt when Goodgym started in 2019 and before Covid happened to us all.

On a bitterly cold but dry Saturday morning Liz and Christine walked the promenade looking for Branksome Dene Chine. The event HQ was unmissable – festive banners and several tents had been set up around the community centre. The enthusiastic young team from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, organisers of the annual fund raising Elf Dash had worked hard and everything was ready. The clubroom had been magically transformed with a trail to Santa’s grotto through a forest of Christmas trees – courtesy of a local garden centre who had been on site at 6.30am. A balloon man was already busy blowing up multicoloured balloons and creating amazing animals, an exciting tombola stall was ready and the Rapid Relief Team were setting up to provide food and drinks for all after the run. We were warmly welcomed by the team and issued with lanyards, high viz jackets and tinsel decorated placards - ‘Turn Around Here’! Soon excited children and their families, many in Christmas themed fancy dress were arriving, and we were directed to our marshal point 1 km from the start where the runners turned and retraced their steps to the start/finish line. The 300 entrants were started in two waves and the front runners soon reached us. Some of them seemed very relieved to realize that they could now turn as the run was already half accomplished. The participants ranged from a baby a few months old who jiggled in a front sling as his mother jogged along, to an elderly lady with a walking frame and there were also several happy dogs. It was a lovely family event with excited children and their families enjoying an event together. When the tail walker reached us we returned to base where we were awarded medals and returned out kit and headed home leaving an excited throng queuing to meet Father Christmas and enjoy food from the caterers.

Jane from our Goodgym team had signed up before we even knew about this event!

MyTime carers are a small local charity supporting young carers.

A bit from the website: With an educational approach driven by charitable action, our mission is to level the playing field for young carers by providing them with the support, friendship and opportunities that every child deserves. There are an estimated 700,000 young carers in the UK.You're a young carer if you're under 18 and help to look after a family member with a disability, illness, mental health condition or drug or alcohol problem.

It was an absolutely hideous weather day, as the marshalls arrived the rain was pouring in and attempt made to keep the marque up! Thankfully after 5pm, before the run started, there was a break in weather overall to allow the event to continue.

Let's hope the charity can put on many more events going forward!

The British weather is unpredictable and changeable.

Today had given us some longed for rain, with the plants, grass and trees almost breathing a sigh of relief to receive the water and with it they brighten their colour's varying shades of green to show their appreciation.

This evening, the clouds cleared, rain moved away and even the sand had a dampness after several days of burning feet in the heatwave.

We met at the top of the many pathways that lead down onto the beach, this one onto Flaghead Chime, not far from Sandbanks, ready to clean up! It was wonderful to welcome back Hannah with her husband, Patrick as extra pair of hands.

We were pleasantly surprised to find the path to the beach was almost clear of debris. We split into teams, with Robert and Hannah taking the sand whilst Esther, Elizabeth and Christine zig zagged along the beach huts, side paths and promenade.

We had expected a spread of rubbish after a week of hot summer sun and tourists but we were so pleased that only small amounts were hiding in the sides, sand and prom. But we filled a bag with all our contributions so can be pleased with our efforts that it doesn't reach the sea.

We ran along the prom to finish. Elizabeth deserves a massive shout out for her efforts this week - Sunday completing her longest ever run of 18 miles in marathon training for London. Followed by 5 miles last night with another 4 tonight. What a strong pair of lungs and legs Liz has, she is going to smash London!

Just like the changing weather, Goodgym can also bring the clearing of clouds after a difficult day or few weeks. Being around positive, compassionate people with a shared interest can lift the mood to bring out new colours after the intensity of the sun and heat.

Thank you Goodgym runners for bring that to us all!