Tonight's celebration for our resident islander David.

The last week of the January Challenge, that means the last group run for the month.

Push it

All out in force we saw 13 goodgymers for the group task, after an already impressive 8 for an earlier litterpick.

Those deeds where flying this week, and whilst on the subject of

Congratulations DAVE for hitting 100 and beyond

Those jogging and running met at the Glassworks as usual, for a jaunty 4.5km distance (total there and back). Whilst the walkers met at the task and then walked back.

Our task organiser tonight was the Samye Foundation, hosted by the lovely Lorraine. Greeted by the board of tasks it was a good night for 13 volunteers.

• Removing staples from paperwork
• Shredding paperwork
• Vacuuming building 252
• Mopping kitchen and toilets in building 252
• Vacuum the shrine room in building 250
• Wipe down the bannisters
• Vacuum the mindfulness practice room
• Mop the corridors and Tibetan café
• Repot the large plant out front

Quite a list tonight, but as Cardiff is on challenge mode nothing was going to phase us. We split into three groups, 1 outside and 2 split between the buildings.

We had a shredder overheating, and a group turning from removing staples to ripping documents. Our two horticulturists, repotting plants outside. Cleaning teams working in the furthest building, loving a vacuum and wipe down. No winging it tonight (except for Dave) only a full McCulundred % would do. From one building to another, stairs, corridors and the beautiful shrine room. We were truly blessed to be in there.

We tore through those tasks

As the bell finally rang for tools down, the crew were gathered for a celebratory sit down with soup. We had been treated to a wonderful fresh vegetable soup made by Lorraine.

2 SOUPS

We finished and bid farewell, taking a quick group photo outside before heading off for the night.

But wait, there's more... As this is our last group task of the month it’s time for food. Tonight for the burger deal.

Martin became the third club member to reach 300 deeds tonight! Congratulations and well done Martin, an amazing achievement. You are a true Graff-ter

He was awarded a Goodgym trident to mark the auspicious occasion!

It was a wet and dreary evening but 6 other GG-ers were there to support Martin in doing some good!

The task at hand was to clear down the perimeter wall at the Salvation Army, which was covered in weeds and nettles. We had to really tri-hard to cut and pull off the stubborn greenery, at some points it was a 3 pronged attack. The group tried-to-make-a-dent, but in fact they did much more than that, clearing a large percentage of the wall.

This week there was more chat about Microsoft Excel as we went about our work, but the only Graff plotted was how we would get back to the pub to celebrate.

When we got back we created a little clothes line to dry out our soggy gear! Then some folks ordered food - which they ate with a traditional 4 pronged fork! ;o)

We toasted Martin's milestone and enjoyed the welsh cakes he kindly brought with him. A grand old evening.

Welcome back for your second Tuesday Henry and to your first January Challenge.

The January challenge is well underway and we are hitting it hard in the Diff. Today saw double and triple deeds going on to help us reach our increased target for 2026.

Tonight we made our way to Cwtch Together, always lovely to see them and this was our first visit of 2026 to Cwtch.

It was a nice route following the river and then through the park, utilising Darrens head torch with the power of a thousand suns.

After our initial welcome from the lovely Sarah, it was time to get into our busy groups.

• Group 01 - raking leaves
• Group 02 - unpacking Sarah's car
• Group 03 - in the store room

Group 01 The leaves had been blown from the park and where wet on the pathways, causing potential slips for the children and young people. Not on our watch 👀

Group 02 Sarah had received a request from one of the young people using her charity, to wrap up their parents. So off to the store and lots of reduced Xmas wrapping paper later.

Group 03 Sarah had requested our tallest person for the task in the store room of toys and activities. Earlier after a box explosion, items where spilling all over the place. So along with the tallest runner, group 3 took to tidying up the back.

We finished a little earlier than usual for a Cwtch session, so we increased our run back for the extra kilometers for the challenge.

Join us next week and keep those deeds flowing so that we can hit our 160 total deeds and 2000km.