Having completed a fitness session in the gorgeous evening sunshine, seven of us ran up the hill towards Ronald MacDonald House.

We met Jazz who explained what they all do. An amazing place that allows parents with very sick children to access a room to stay so they can be nearby. The parents can come from as far away as Kent and can stay as long as they want....indeed they currently have a couple who have been staying intermittently since last September. It's an invaluable resource and a must make a massive difference for the parents involved.

Jazz explained that while the facility was closed due to Covid the outside area had, in the words of Grandmaster Flash, become "like a jungle".

Jazz and her partner had recently cleared one area alongside a wall but the beds on the opposite side were still crazily overgrown. We set about clearing the dreaded bindweed which was achieved but there is still work to do. While clearing weeds cocktails with a Goodgym theme, our next social and rats were discussed!

All in all a productive evening at a very inspiring location.

Meanwhile over in Hanover and Elm Grove Ward the rest of the team helped local residents paint over several patches of unsightly graffiti and weed and pick up litter in the beds in front of the Percy Wagner almshouses. Although the graffiti has reappeared in some areas we’d painted over on our last visit, I do believe we are winning the war and it was great to see the bottom of Southover Street clear of graffiti on the run back. Items picked up in the litter included the usual haul of drinks cans but also a child’s pair of wellies, an umbrella, a ladle and lots of McDonald’s takeaway litter! So both tasks were supported by the burger chain in one way or another!