One of the great things about GoodGym is it brings us into contact with community services that in their own quiet way provide an invaluable service to many local people. They usually do this with tiny budgets and inspirational, hardworking and dedicated staff and volunteers. Walthamstow Toy library is one such place. Providing children with a place to play and socialise and parents with a chance to get some valuable respite and also to socialise.

I also like to count GoodGym volunteers among the number of people who contribute to this effort. Giving up your time to help oil the wheels of these valuable community services is simply fantastic so thank you to the seven runners who came along tonight to start a small project to improve the Toy Library.

We started the evening with a short, sharp run uphill to Walthamstow Village and arrived at the Toy Library where we met Helen who briefed us on the evening's tasks. Upon receiving our instructions, we wasted no time in setting about the jobs. Well, I say wasted no time, but we did abort the fence painting mission after opening up an ancient paint pot and noticing that the contents had turned from paint into some indescribable liquid with a nasty niff about it. We quickly reassigned ourselves some tasks and had Ramon, Hannah and Jessie on landscaping with rakes, spades, hoes, etc. Nerys and Pippa on carpentry, the latter deploying some newly acquired flat pack furniture making skills and Carmen on brushwork, painting a bridge with some paint that was actually paint.

After that, we headed downhill to Lloyd Park for an intensive four-minute workout of squat jumps and burpees. Finally heading back to base for a stretch and a thirst quenching drink.

Fabulous work everyone but we have left unfinished business so will be heading back to the same place next week to progress the project. Sign-up here and I'll see you there

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