George and I were proud to represent GoodGym Barnet on a big community mission supporting North London Hospice with their Christmas tree collection fundraiser.

It was a much longer day than our usual GoodGym efforts starting bright and early at 8:30am in Winchmore Hill but brilliantly organised from start to finish. We were paired up with drivers from Redpath Moving, who had generously donated their trucks (and driving skills!). These big vehicles were essential for handling around 70–80 used Christmas trees across Enfield.

The routes looked neat on paper, but in reality required plenty of problem-solving: parking up, running down tight roads, and making sure no tree was left behind. My driver, Chris, was superb calmly manoeuvring into tight spots while we packed up to 45 trees at a time before heading back to unload and start again.

We finished just before dark having seen both sunrise and sunset tired but elated to complete everything we’d been assigned. Along the way we met lots of grateful residents (including one future volunteer for next year!), and we were well looked after with drinks, snacks, and sandwiches.

A long day, great fun, and a real reminder of how satisfying it is to muck in and help out. Huge thanks to North London Hospice for such a slick operation and if this sounds like your kind of thing, get involved next time. You won’t regret it.

We gathered once again at the ever-reliable Phoenix Cinema, braced for another properly cold winter’s evening. With the last few days dipping well below freezing, this Tuesday proved no exception and with the added prospect of snow and icy surfaces later on, safety came first.

Our task host at Shepherd Hill, Pat, made the sensible call to cancel the session there due to slippery conditions and a light covering of snow. So… Plan B it was. And when in doubt, you can always rely on GoodGym’s most generous task of all: litter picking.

We warmed up in the cinema foyer, where conversation turned to New Year’s Eve plans past, present, and imaginary. Answers ranged from the sensible (“go to bed early”) to the surreal. Subham absolutely won the night with his story of accidentally meeting Mike Tyson on a staircase in a famous New York nightclub Tyson going up, Subham coming down, polite smiles exchanged. Subham briefly considered pushing him down the stairs and claiming victory… wisely deciding against it.

It was also great to see John from Camden joining us, and the beauty of litter picking meant plenty of time to chat while quietly doing good around the local area. Always surprising (and slightly depressing) how many cigarette ends lurk around trees though there was a small victory when a blocked drain was cleared using nothing more than a litter picker and determination.

As the cold finally began to bite, we headed back inside for the important stuff: hot chocolate, refreshing drinks, and a rather large box of popcorn, courtesy of George much appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who came out, adapted, laughed, and still made a difference. Next week we’re at Stephens House & Gardens it’s a great one, so bring a friend!

Run, chat, do good see you there.

A few Goodgym Member members came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

One reason you should be doing yoga is that it Reduces Inflammation • Research shows that yoga’s combination of movement, breathing, and relaxation can decrease chronic inflammation markers in the body. This helps balance the natural healing process without aggravating an injured area.

Warmth on a Cold Night at St Mary’s

Daniel and I spent the night supporting the Winter Night Shelter at St Mary’s Church Hall in Finchley and it was a quietly humbling experience.

Run almost entirely by local volunteers, the shelter provided warmth, food and calm on a night when temperatures dropped to –2°C. By the time we arrived, guests had eaten well and were settling down to sleep across the main and smaller halls. Our role overnight was simple but important: to be present, supportive, and help ensure everything ran smoothly.

In the morning, a fresh group of volunteers arrived to prepare breakfast before guests packed up and moved on to the next venue. Seeing the interfaith community working together so seamlessly really brought home how vital and effective this network is.

Without shelters like this, nights like that could be unimaginably hard for those sleeping rough. It was a privilege to play a small part in such an important local effort.

If this inspires you, please share and don’t forget our January Challenge: walk, run or cycle, log it on Strava, and help us do good while keeping fit

Any Time, Any Place, Any Pace: December Litter Picks

December wrapped up our monthly “any time, anywhere” litter pick, and what a lovely way it was to end 2025 quietly, locally, and with lots of small acts adding up to something meaningful.

Huge thanks to everyone who took part this month, and to those who’ve been dipping in and out right across the year. Whether you picked for five minutes on a dog walk, filled one bag, or tackled a bigger hotspot, it all counts and it all matters.

We had some brilliant moments: • A festive litter pick along the Snoopy Trail, where a couple of enthusiastic children joined in by spotting bits we’d missed (future GoodGymmers in the making!). • A determined clean-up along the River Quaggy that started as a “quick pick” and turned into multiple bags of bottles, cans and polystyrene. • Solo picks, shared picks, daylight picks, and “I’ll just do this bit while I’m out” picks.

That’s really the joy of this mission. No pressure. No fixed time. No big logistics. Just being active, present, and community-minded wherever you happen to be.

Why litter picking works • It’s easy to fit into everyday life • It’s quietly satisfying (that bag fills up faster than you expect!) • It sparks conversations and curiosity • It makes you notice – and care about – your local patch a little more • And it’s one of the simplest ways to turn a walk, run, or dog outing into a good deed

As we roll into 2026, let’s keep this going – and see if we can pull a few more people along with us. Bring a friend. Borrow a picker. Snap a photo. Write a few lines. That’s all it takes.

If you’d like to get involved, need a litter picker, or fancy being added to the WhatsApp group for gentle nudges and shared motivation, just let me know. This is GoodGym at its most accessible – and most human.

Thanks again to everyone who’s been part of this through 2025. Let’s get properly stuck into 2026

A hardy group of Goodgymmers, new and regular, gathered at the Phoenix Cinema for their regular session, only to find... the cinema was closed! Thankfully, the lovely manager was in, and more than happy for us to gather our resolve in the foyer as we prepared to go out into the dark and damp.

Tonight's mission was leafleting for the North London Hospice. Each year they offer a great service collecting Christmas trees and donations to keep themselves going. We had 500 leaflets and many pairs of hands to make light work of delivering them to nearby houses, especially the ones with all their Chrimbo decorations sparkling.

Warming up outside, we welcomed Fanny and Kingsley for the first time, as well as Narina for her second consecutive week (thanks also for bringing Kingsley!). Amazing to see Jacqui also, who can't usually make Tuesday group runs. And, of course, stalwarts Rachel, Subham and Paul making up the numbers.

Then off we went, with Rachel and Paul leading a walking group of 5, and myself, Subham and Jacqui jogging to the far end of the nearby roads, then working our way back to meet them in the middle. Then, after a quick redistribution of the remaining flyers, we set a challenge to see whether the runners could finish and get back to the Phoenix before the walkers. The walkers won, mainly because the runners stopped to take a photo.

Lucky for us, the Phoenix manager was still working and more than happy to open the bar for us! After a round of bevvies (or maybe two for some), we patted ourselves on the back for another job well done.

Looking forward to the new year, on Wednesday 7 January we'll be helping North London Hospice reap the rewards of our leafleting, collecting Christmas trees - a great follow up to start 2026 with!