David Mansfield

GoodGym Luton

LutonCommunity mission
Pam FarquharDuncan
Dani CBMartin RGail Dearing

You’re so wonderfully, wonderfully, wonderfully parkrun. Oh you know that we’d do anything for you.

Saturday 9th November

Written by Luton runner

A solid turnout for the latest parkrun takeover, with at least three GoodGymers getting the subconscious memo to wear their black t-shirts in honour of the latest album from The Cure - everyone’s favourite frothy sunshine-merchant band.

A wide range of roles undertaken: set-up, marshal, parkwalker and run report, so from end to end. Never mind Friday, it’s Saturday we’re in love!

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LutonGroup run
+2
Martin RDani CBDuncanMusa KamaraOmar Mohammmad

Clamping Down on Litter

Wednesday 6th November

Written by David Mansfield

It was a misty, drizzly night for a group run but that didn't stop some of Luton's finest coming out for a mid-week good deed in the middle of a 5km run around town. We had five runners and three walkers taking it easy up one of Luton's many hills.

This week's task was litter picking a trashy hotspot in a green space on a residential road, Saywell Road to be precise. We were acting on a tip-off from area PCSO Caroline Lawson who had noticed this evidence of antisocial behaviour on her patrols, and called us in to assist.

We set to work on what at first seemed like a quick and easy job, but under the scattering of leaves, layer upon layer of rubbish was revealed and the task started to become a bit epic. We started off with beer cans and food packets but soon found some random household items in the leafy mix including drawers, kids toys, a hula hoop and even a TV. Keeping on going we found many plastic car body panels and a wheel clamp.

Fortunately we had Kevin Poulton on hand from ABCD Luton to help with the logistics, providing the bags and the pickers and a whole lot of clean-up experience. Early on we started finding big canisters of nitrous oxide and they just kept on coming. We pulled out boxes full of them, in the end we got over 50! Digging a little deeper we uncovered a buried stash of prescription drugs, enough to fill a bucket, which we also found in the bushes! All in all we counted 53 bags of rubbish collected and that doesn't even include all the oversized bits we gathered. Not bad for 40 minutes of picking!

With the epic pile stacked neatly by the roadside for collection by the council, we bid it and its dodgy smells goodbye to complete our 5km journey for the evening.

But that wasn't all the epicness for the day, because by completing this task Martin completed an epic haul of 400 good deeds, and all in a little over three years, now that's dedication!

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LutonCommunity mission
GillMartin RChanelDinnerDee

Remember Remember the 5th of November, Custard Powder, Season(ing), and Pots

Tuesday 5th November

Written by Gill (She/her)

Guy Fawkes night was not a deterrent for our team of 4 at FoodCycle tonight, especially as they knew they could go on form the task to see some of the local fireworks display after serving up a sumptuous meal to the 50 guests.

There was lots of produce available and Martin and Gill were busy as usual, chopping, mixing and grating to help prepare various elements of tonights dinner. Martin, now dubbed the Custard King was all set to make his usual batch, but was slightly disappointed to find out our usual custard powder had been substituted for instant powder - just add hot water. It wasn't quite as tasty as his usual milk laden custard but it went very well with Gill's apple and pear crumble.

There was also a joint effort to create a delicious "bistrot" side salad to accompany the main pasta course, while one of the other volunteers conjoured up a large pot of leek and potato soup.

Chanel and Omar joined the team, and Omar again was a wizard at the kitchen sink while Chanel helped to put together the goody bags, serve the guests and clean up afterwards.

Great team effort and another fabulous meal. Well done Team.

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LutonCommunity mission
GillMartin RAbim Adejumo

A banging display 🎆 🎇 🧨

Tuesday 5th November

Written by Martin R

Tonight, 3 of Luton Goodgyms elite were treated to a fantastic fireworks display at Lea Manor High School in Marsh Farm. This community led event is in its 24th year and is a really well attended. That's where we come in. Lots of people means lots of rubbish🗑 ,or so we thought. It's fair to say for the size of the event the community were pretty good at disposing of their waste, however once the crowds dispersed the team were able go get in amongst the stalls and right up to the safety fencing and collect roughly 10 bags of litter. As ever the team done an amazing job, in quick time. Marsh Farm Futures were grateful for the support and I'm sure we'll help them with more tasks in the future (pun intended) Well done team 👏 👏 👏

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LutonCommunity mission
+3
Musa KamaraMayra TorresNeil ShahSheetal BhardwajDinnerDeeOmar Mohammmad

Curry 🍛 night at the temple

Monday 4th November

Written by Martin R

Tonight the Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat temple in Luton held their 3rd curry cooking class as part of the near neighbours funded project they are currently running. 9 of Luton Goodgyms finest were there to support with hosting the event. Preparing, cooking and eating food as well as washing up and tidying away. Everyone got stuck in from buttering roti to laying out plates, there was a job for everyone. Well done team 👏, keep doing Luton proud 👏

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LutonCommunity mission
DuncanLizzy BurchMartin RDavid MansfieldMusa KamaraYosef Bushe

One Heli of a litterpick

Saturday 5th October

Written by Martin R

Octobers community litterpick at People's park was well attended, 6 of the 14 that turned out were from Luton's Goodgym elite. The team got stuck in to the task at hand and helped to collect 19 bags of rubbish (8 of which were filled with recycling ♻️). A toy helicopter was found too and it was also recycled as a lady came passed with her grandson and asked if she could have it. The team also helped to trim back some of the trees 🌳 🌳 🌳 that were overhanging the footpath. Well done everyone, great effort 👌

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