We helped TRAID in Brixton to their stock from a flooded room. A good work out and a worthy cause.

The Route: A Berry Good Adventure! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

This week our fantastic crew of do-gooders embarked on another mission to spread joy and burn calories in equal measure! We ran to Holy Trinity to meet the lovely Adam, taking the scenic route through the park where we couldn’t resist a spontaneous 50-yard dash. Because apparently regular running isn’t challenging enough - we needed to add some competitive spirit to really get those heart rates pumping!

Well done Fi!! Perdie sorry about the misbehaving bicycle...:0(

Mission: Operation Bramble Trouble

Once we arrived at the vicarage, it was time to get down to the nitty-gritty (and thorny) business of garden warfare:

Blackberry Bramble Battle Royale - Armed with secateurs and sheer determination, we took on some seriously aggressive brambles that had clearly been plotting garden domination. These weren’t just any old thorns - they were the kind that fight back! Several volunteers emerged looking like they’d been wrestling with a particularly grumpy hedgehog, but victory (and a kilo of berries) was ours!

Path Clearing Champions - We declared all-out war on weeds and moss, transforming a slightly shabby path into something so pristine it practically sparkled. The weeds didn’t stand a chance against our green-fingered army of destruction!

Weeding Warriors - No dandelion was safe as our volunteers pulled, tugged, and uprooted with the enthusiasm of people who genuinely enjoy making things tidy (which, let’s face it, is slightly concerning but utterly admirable).

🌟 LEGEND ALERT: Michael Hits the Big 3-0-0! 🌟

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we have a genuine superhero in our midst! Tonight we’re celebrating our absolute legend Michael, who has just recorded his 300th good deed with GoodGym!

That’s right - THREE HUNDRED acts of community kindness since he started back in 2017. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly one good deed for every cup of tea consumed during a typical British crisis meeting, or about the same number of times we’ve all said “this year will definitely be different” since 2017.

Michael, you absolute weapon of community spirit, you’ve been smashing it for seven years and show no signs of slowing down. From bramble battles to litter picking adventures, from community garden chaos to whatever weird and wonderful tasks we’ll inevitably stumble into next week - you’ve been there through it all!

Here’s to Michael: proving that being a legend isn’t just about what you achieve, but about showing up week after week with a smile, a pair of running shoes, and an inexplicable willingness to wrestle with hostile vegetation! 🏆

The Verdict

Another week, another successful mission accomplished! The vicarage is looking absolutely mint (pun intended), our step counters are very happy with us, and somewhere in Lambeth, a group of defeated brambles is probably plotting their revenge for next season.

Until next week, keep running, keep laughing, and keep being the kind of people who think spending their evening pulling weeds is actually a pretty decent way to spend time!

Remember: We’re not just working out - we’re working wonders in our community, one terrible pun at a time!

The Friends of Loughborough Park do a monthly litter pick of this lovely green space and it was a pleasure to enjoy their volunteers in the sunshine. Lots of people have had picnics in the park recently so there was loads of rubbish to collect! We divided and conquered the park, separating the waste into recycling and general waste. After our efforts we enjoyed a cup of tea and delicious apricot cake baked by one of the volunteers!

Nick and I met bright and early to shift around some furniture. We had been warned that it was heavy, so we were ready for a challenge. Which was exactly what we found! There was plenty of furniture to be moved so we deployed our best spatial awareness tactics only to be momentarily set back when we found the wardrobe was screwed to the wall. So while I retreated to pet the cat and dog duo, Nick (quite literally) did the heavy lifting, and found a solution. Thanks Nick! Dusting ourselves off, we headed off for our next missions- a morning well spent!

At the community centre this morning vegetables needed putting away and steak needed cutting up. The work was done waiting for tomorrow's clients.

🏃‍♀️💪

Mission accomplished at Loughborough Farm!

Tonight’s fantastic six-strong crew descended upon Heather’s domain at Loughborough Farm like a well-oiled (and slightly soggy) machine. Armed with determination, our heroes tackled the great ballast adventure of 2025!

The MOT Spreading Squad 🚛

Our fearless volunteers channeled their inner road builders, spreading MOT ballast by the plant room with the precision of seasoned professionals. Who knew that “getting your steps in” could involve so much actual construction work? The ballast didn’t stand a chance against our collective enthusiasm and surprising upper body strength!

Timber Titans & Concrete Champions 🪵🏗️

Not content with just one heroic feat, the team also:

• Relocated ancient timber with the grace of furniture movers (but with more dirt under their fingernails)
• Conquered the concrete mountain - because nothing says “cardio” like hauling chunks of old concrete to their final resting place

Welcome Back Celebrations! 🎉

The evening was made even more special with some brilliant returnees:

• Jordan graced us with their presence after what felt like forever away - we missed those legendary lifting skills!
• Jo made a triumphant comeback after becoming a superhero parent to a beautiful baby boy! From Task Force hero to actual life-creating hero - now that’s an upgrade!

Tonight’s Dream Team 🌟

A massive shout-out to our incredible volunteers: Michael, Ben, Tilly, Jordan, Jo, and Adam - you absolute legends! Six people, countless wheelbarrows, and one very satisfied Heather at Loughborough Farm.

Remember: We don’t just run for fitness, we run for purpose! Next week, who knows what adventures await… but we guarantee it’ll involve getting pleasantly grubby while making a real difference in our community.

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Keep being amazing, GoodGym Lambeth! 🏃‍♂️🌱