11 Goodgymmers jogged and walked the short journey over to Round Hill to help keep the neighbourhood tidy. When we arrived we joined forces with Dom and the volunteers from the Round Hill Society. The Round Hill Society helps to preserve, improve and create pride in the the area. We also welcomed new Goodgymmer Andrea to her first task!

After going to pick-up tools from the local community store we split into 3 groups to tackle a few different areas. Armed with secateurs, shovels and brooms we got to work on cutting back bindweed, trimming overhanging hedges and clearing the edges of the pavement. With 3 big teams and a can-do attitude we made short work of the pesky bindweed and quickly filled-up 14 bin bags. The looming darkness at the end of the task reminded us children of summer that autumn was indeed coming!

Once we finished all our tasks and regrouped, in scenes reminiscent of Jesus feeding the 5000 Stefania fed us all from huge reserves of end-of-life croissants, bread and salad. Fully carbed-up we all jogged back home in the autumn darkness.

We had a great turnout of runners, with 10 of us meeting at the Peace Statue and running to the task. Two others cycled to the site, and three more met us directly there, making a fantastic group of 14 ready to get to work. We welcomed new member Susie, and Charli returning for her second session, to the team.

We were helping out at St Thomas Fund, a residential rehabilitation service in Brighton & Hove run by the charity Change Grow Live. They offer a safe space for adults on their journey to becoming free of drugs and alcohol. Sean, who welcomed us, gave a fantastic introduction to the organisation, the site and their mission, explaining that our task was to transform a bindweed-covered area into a usable space for yoga and meditation.

The area was completely carpeted in weeds. We even found a rake that the tenacious bindweed had tried to consume! We had a laugh wondering how long you'd have to sunbathe before it took you over, too. But the team, including Sean, with tools and gloves provided by St Thomas Fund, made short work of it.

Nicola and Sarah did a particularly fantastic job of rescuing a fig tree from the grip of the bindweed. By the end of the session, the whole area looked transformed. You could see the soil in the beds again, and we filled somewhere between 10 and 20 bags with weeds and rubbish.

Sean seemed to be really happy with what we achieved, emphasizing how the collective effort of so many volunteers can make a huge difference in a short amount of time. It was a great feeling to see the space ready for residents to use for peaceful activities. A big thank you to Sean and St Thomas Fund for having us.

This week's maxi challenge was a Brighton Pride weekend tradition: the Sunday morning beach clean 🌊🌈

Accessorised with blue bags and litter pickers, we sashayed along the shoreline picking up an assortment of plastic wrappers, cigarette butts, and tired old coffee cups 😬 Litter? we don't know her.

Goodgymers, although your outfit choices were more pedestrian than pavilion, your collective effort helped restore our beloved beach from trashy to classy, and for that you are all queens 👸

Happy Pride everyone! 🌈✨️

On Friday, a colourful crew of GoodGym members laced up (or turned up!) for the Rainbow Run — a joyful, inclusive 5K hosted by the Brighton & Hove Frontrunners as part of Pride celebrations.

Some of us came to run, proudly wearing rainbow socks, sequins, and smiles. Others showed up to marshal the route with enthusiasm and cheers, keeping runners safe and spirits high. And of course, a few GoodGym-ers made it their mission to cheer, snap photos, and support with the energy only our group can bring.

After the last runners crossed the line, most of us stuck around to help with the less glamorous but just as vital job of dismantling the race area — yes, that meant taking down bunting, taking out flags and poles, and de-glittering whatever we could.

The Rainbow Run wasn’t just a 5K — it was a celebration of inclusion and visibility, open to ALL runners: those who run fast or slow, those who run alone or with others, those who run on both sides of the road, those who cross the road when running, those who run in secret and those who don’t. The Rainbow Run was for everyone.

A huge thank you to Graham from B&H Frontrunners for all the brilliant organising and ideas that made the event run smoothly, to Rosie and Pippa for suggesting we get involved in the first place, and to El, who travelled all the way from Worthing to join the fun.

We wrapped up the day in true GoodGym style — with a picnic in the park. There was sunshine, laughter, great company, and yes — of course — I brought hummus. It also happened to be my birthday, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend it than surrounded by this wonderful GoodGym community. I’m so grateful for the joy, the support, and the shared silliness — truly the best birthday gift of all. 🌈💪🏃‍♀️🎉

While the world may be getting harder out there, events like Rainbow Run remind us why it matters to come together, to celebrate, and to keep running — for joy, for each other, and for a more colourful world.