20 people ran 5k to Birmingham Vernon Sea Cadets to help clean boats and stock take life jackets

Tonight we welcomed Beth, Mark and Axel to the group for the first time. Axel is from the GG Central team and is flying from Birmingham to Doha tomorrow on an exciting two week running trip! Once all the introductions were over and the exciting news that our first Birmingham Mission was going ahead tomorrow was announced we were on our way to a brand-new task.

Sea cadets, but weres the sea?!

You may wonder if you are reading this report how is there a Sea Cadet group in Brum when the sea is so far away, well you would be surprised, there are actually a few groups in the city. The group we were visiting were based by Birmingham Reservoir, so it's not quite the sea, but plenty of water to take their boats out to. On arriving we got a great view over the water with a pink sky (see the pictures) as darkness was falling. Jenn also warmly greeted us. Once on with the task the group had to work as a team to tip the boats over and move them. Everyone showed great team work, whilst a few of the group did the stock taking of the life jackets. I got a great vantage point for some pictures, by walking up the stairs onto the roof, initially it didn’t do my acrophobia much good, but I survived!

Sam got his big hose out

While most of the group turned the boats over Sam and Annie looked very excited to use the power hose, cleaning the boats off! Once done we were on our way back. We stopped at a quiet road no cars could drive down to do some interval work. What we missed in traffic we also missed in lighting meaning the group had to go a little slower than usual. I also had problems taking pictures as I thought I couldn’t unlock my phone, only realising I was trying to use Aaron’s phone which I was also carrying in my bag! Doh! Once nearly back I added in one more sprint up a hill, getting the groups heart rate right up before we finished. Once back it was time for a quick stretch off and we were done.

Next week we will be out doing good again and my mistake we aren’t going to Birmingham Mission Care Centre we are going to do a litter pick on the canal, I forgot that I had bought it forward a week, so we could make good use of the last of the light! sign up here.