WHAT A NIGHT!

GoodGymTrafford launched into the stratosphere last night. An incredible 71 runners/ walkers turned out in the distinctly unpredictable weather to kick off GoodGym’s newest area from our regular start location - St Matthew's Community Hall. 71 is the biggest turn out ever for a GoodGym launch and goes to show how awesome people in Trafford are!

I'vey never seen such a big group of volunteers!

We were joined by the Mayor of Trafford, Mr Rob Chilton who welcomed GoodGym to the area. We were also joined by many Trafford Councillors, Trafford Borough Council colleagues and friends from running, charity and community groups across the Borough. We even had a visit from our four-legged mascot, Freddy who got in on the action in his red GoodGym bow. GoodGym is funded by Trafford Borough Council so a big thanks to them for their ongoing and significant support to us - we couldn't do it without you.

What a lovely bunch!

As well as meeting new people while we all assembled some runners also got their documents checked so that they can start doing coach runs (regularly running to see an isolated elderly person), or so that they can take part in mission runs (running to help isolated elderly people with one-off practical tasks). Big thanks to Lisa for helping with the document checks!

After our welcome chat, we warmed up in fine style including the thundering of 142 trainers as we did fast feet to get our heart rates up. Once warm, we ran/ walked from St Matthew's over to Stretford Meadows, dodging puddles and completed a slow uphill drag where we all convened for a fitness task led by Kate. Divided into two teams we squatted and balanced ourselves to give our leg muscles that extra workout and then ran back to St Matthews to complete our gardening task. A big thank you to Liv for leading the Walking group and to John for backmarking along with all the other GoodGymers from across the country who chatted to everyone and explained what GoodGym is all about. Thanks guys!

Helen, the Community Hall Manager, provided us with the kit to get going and even opened up the doors for us to listen to the Band that were practicing - the music helped spur us on even more!

Once we had allocated the tasks everyone went to it like mad things for 40 minutes really using those muscles to:

• Pull up bushes and weeds from a massive raised bed, and to our surprise revealing some old headstones;
• Dig out flower beds;
• Weed and replant planters with bedding plants;
• Weeding, digging over and planting Gladioli near the main entrance ;
• Cutting back ivy from the long car park wall;
• Sweeping the ground and car park;
• Raking and sorting waste; and
• Tidying the surrounding area.

I cannot BELIEVE the difference you have all made - thank you!

Helen was blown away by the amount of energy and how much we achieved - well done to you all!

After we had finished all our tasks, we closed with some stretches and a chat about next week's task which is a poster dash to support the publicising of an event by Calm Connections (a local children's mental health charity) in September. Click here to sign up

We all celebrated our success with cheers all round and left with a spring in our step.

It was fabulous to see so many smiling faces throughout the evening and to see you all getting to know each other, doing some fitness and of course, transforming St Matthew's which was massively appreciated by Helen.

We will meet at St Matthew's every Wednesday at 6.30pm from now on.

Once again, well done to all and we very much look forward to seeing you all at St Matthews next time!

Keep running, Kate