Another warm Monday night saw a decent-sized team head out to the Royal London to join Barts Volunteers for a busy night of varied tasks.

Joining Barts Volunteers as they celebrate NHS70

We felt very privileged to be joining them this evening, as it’s an exceptionally busy week for the team – the NHS turns 70 this Thursday 5th July, celebrating the anniversary with NHS70, and so it was something of an honour to be at the hospital this week for our Group Run.

And so to work

Nancy, Marufa and Bernadette, our task owners, were all ready and waiting – and brilliantly prepared and equipped as usual. We headed into the hospital with two teams despatched to sticker Sepsis trolleys on all fourteen floors, while the remaining runners headed outside to the hospital gardens to litter-pick and deadhead rose bushes. Both teams accomplished heaps, with the trolley crew impressively finishing ahead of time, and the gardening crew determined to pick up every last cigarette butt before we started the run back. All too soon we were congregating back in the Whitechapel Road entrance, where thank you’s, pics, goodbye’s – and the plan for the run back - took place.

The return run: 3 running speeds; 5 pacers…

We ran back to base in three groups: Dave and Danny led the 7:30-minute milers; Becky and Gabrielle the 9-minute mile pace, and I enjoyed the 11-minute mile pace. Then we stretched well (“Let’s focus on the soleus tonight, folks”) before rewarding ourselves with some last minute snacks and heading home.

…Thanks – and welcome

Thank you to Dave, Danny and Becky for behind-the-scenes pace-planning and for leading our speedy return run; to Dave and Becky for leading our tasks in the hospital; to Becky and Gabrielle for back-marking on the way out, and to Dave, Danny and Keri for trolley pics!

A big warm welcome to Jack on his first run - what a productive evening, with some fast running! Congrats, and thank you, and hope to see you soon.

And it was great to see visiting Chi and Stefania –please come back soon!

Lastly, I’d like to add a huge ‘well done’ to all the team who made it to the GoodGym Olympics on Saturday, and who competed – pics are included in this report of Sarah’s first prize-winning cake, and Leanne and Becky’s beautifully designed and crafted Tower Hamlets Olympic torch. Thank you to all who were involved in the efforts on the day, and in the lead-up.

Onto next week

Next week, we’re hoping to make it a two-task week: we’re due at Stepney City Farm, and we’re also hoping to help out with some decorating at a local Community Centre, at a new task, so do sign up here if you’re able to make it.

Until then, have a wonderful week.