Yule won't believe it, we found enough GoodGymers!

"Oh deer", I kept thinking in the run-up to the day - it was snow joke, it really did look like we weren't going to have enough hands to deck the halls and we were going to have to cancel this one. But, after a lot of help with promoting the mid-day mid-week community mission, we managed to rally up enough GoodGym hands to bring some festive cheer and 'elfulness to Asda. We were offering to pack bags at the checkouts to raise money for Evolve Housing and Support, an organisation that supports homeless people across London.

We're sleighing it

We did the festive, GoodGym version of Noah's Ark, arriving in pairs for our chosen shifts. Alyx and Pete kicked off the proceedings adorned in tinsel garlands, which they then passed on to Nicky and Nic (thanks for the festive tinsel Alyx, it really spruced things up). A special shout out to Pete, who had been "recruited" to the mission on his Westminster group run earlier in the week (the recruitment even came with support throughout completion of the mandatory community mission e-learning, thanks to the legendary "Kingston Kate") - we hope you enjoyed your first community mission Pete!

We were greeted by the very lovely Jazz from Evolve, who provided lots of encouragement and enthusiasm throughout and also took on the role of Chief Photographer - thanks Jazz, your help meant that we didn't have to take any 'elfies!. Hopefully we didn't disappoint with our festive attire - elves, santas, reindeer and tinsel all made an appearance!

Your presents is requested

We happily helped any customers who took us up on our offers and chatted away with them about Christmas plans and, of course, about Evolve. With preparations well and truly underway for Christmas socialising, we had lots of chances to flex our mini biceps and get some free weight training done, that's fir sure. It also gave the nosier ones of us the perfect opportunity to eye up the clothes, homeware and presents that were being bought. A slightly dangerous mission if you're partial to a spot of post-mission shopping...

A round of Santa-plaus...

Thank you all for sparing the middle of your Friday afternoon to raise money and awareness for Evolve! And thank you Nic for having come up with the pun before the mission even happened! You snow what they sleigh,

it's the most punderful time of the year.