"To spend a few hours doing all of that work, for a total stranger.. it's wonderful, thank you!"

These were the rewarding words of the remarkable Mr J as he bid me farewell following an afternoon of toil, sweat and smiles.

Earlier that afternoon, upon my arrival, Mr. J presented me with a challenge: to subdue the rampant ivy and weeds that had overtaken the rear of his garden. The vines had intertwined with the wall and fence, growing into a dense, heavy mass that sat and spilled over the aging fence.

The mission brief from Goodgym HQ was clear: assess feasibility first and foremost. Indeed, the task was daunting with vines towering over me, but a solid stone wall offered a reliable platform from which to tackle them. Moreover, Mr. J had provided all the essential tools needed for the job.

I quickly established a plan to begin by clearing a vertical strip that would allow me to stand atop the wall unimpeded. From there, I would be able to target the top of the offending branches - an effective strategy I'd learned in missions past.

Just as I finished phase one, I turned around to see Mr J wielding a boomerang lined with metallic teeth. He diffused my astonishment by explaining it was an old branch cutting saw.

As we paused to chat, my astonishment soon returned. He painted a picture of how this once pretty, well maintained garden had blossomed before recent challenges of reduced mobility meant he'd had to forfeit his usual DIY and gardening duties. The sharp, witty man before me casually revealed he was in his mid-nineties!

I continued with the task at hand. Now able to stand up straight on the stone wall, I attacked the overarching branches with loppers. As I worked my way along the top of the fence, I encountered a particularly stubborn branch, but it was no match for the boomerang saw.

Mr. J came by with a couple of mini Coca Cola cans, and we picked up our conversation where we left off. He was curious about Goodgym's mission, and I enthusiastically shared our vision of getting fit through volunteering. As was his way, Mr. J casually mentioned his own commitment to volunteering, a passion spanning over three decades. Despite cutting back, he still dedicates time weekly. Incredible. He regaled some fantastic stories, one of which revolved about the classic tune "Convoy" by C.W. McCall.

It was time for me to keep on truckin'! I tackled the ivy and brambles on the neighboring side fence, then scraped the wall and fence slats clean. I shoveled all the trimmings into the tarpaulin green waste bags. To finish, I swept the patio floor clear with the broom, then gathered the different tools and placed them by the back door for Mr. J to store away.

I called Mr J from the house and we both went down the garden to view the completed job. Taking it in, he seemed visibly moved; "I haven't seen it like this for four years". He was profuse with his thanks and asked me to pass on his good wishes to all at Goodgym.

High on the Goodgym elixir of endorphines and oxytosin, I walked the couple of miles back to the city centre while humming the song playing in my head.

'Cause we got a Goodgym convoy Runnin' through the night Yeah, we got a Goodgym convoy Ain't it a beautiful sight?

Come on and join our Goodgym Ain't nothin' gonna get in our way We gonna run this Goodgym convoy Across the UK!