Last Friday evening three Poole Goodgym members met at Bournemouth Pier to support University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity with their eleventh Twilight walk along Bournemouth Promenade . The annual event contributes significant funds to women’s health projects across Dorset at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals. Becky was first to arrive collecting her high-viz jacket, a goody bag courtesy of ASDA and instructions about our task which was to marshal at just about the 5 km half-way mark opposite Boscombe Pier. Elizabeth arrived soon after and together she and Becky were able to catch up with a group of Bournemouth goodgym members responsible for marshalling at the 10k half-way point. Our third marshal, Christine then joined us having rushed back from Swanage where she’d spent a fascinating day watching Antiques Roadshow being filmed. Once we had received our final briefing, we briskly marched the 2.5km to Boscombe Pier ready to cheer the Twilight walkers. Approximately 200 participants ran or strolled along the prom on a beautiful summers evening seeing Bournemouth at its best. As night fell, the breeze picked up and there was a definite chill in the air. Just after 10.00pm the tail-walker with the last of the walkers came past and together we made our way back to base. It was a super evening providing support for such a worthwhile charity event, getting a rare opportunity to say hello to our fellow Bournemouth goodgymers and to have a chance to catch up on each other’s news. Oh and a 5k stretch of the legs as well!

On a bitterly cold but dry Saturday morning Liz and Christine walked the promenade looking for Branksome Dene Chine. The event HQ was unmissable – festive banners and several tents had been set up around the community centre. The enthusiastic young team from University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity, organisers of the annual fund raising Elf Dash had worked hard and everything was ready. The clubroom had been magically transformed with a trail to Santa’s grotto through a forest of Christmas trees – courtesy of a local garden centre who had been on site at 6.30am. A balloon man was already busy blowing up multicoloured balloons and creating amazing animals, an exciting tombola stall was ready and the Rapid Relief Team were setting up to provide food and drinks for all after the run. We were warmly welcomed by the team and issued with lanyards, high viz jackets and tinsel decorated placards - ‘Turn Around Here’! Soon excited children and their families, many in Christmas themed fancy dress were arriving, and we were directed to our marshal point 1 km from the start where the runners turned and retraced their steps to the start/finish line. The 300 entrants were started in two waves and the front runners soon reached us. Some of them seemed very relieved to realize that they could now turn as the run was already half accomplished. The participants ranged from a baby a few months old who jiggled in a front sling as his mother jogged along, to an elderly lady with a walking frame and there were also several happy dogs. It was a lovely family event with excited children and their families enjoying an event together. When the tail walker reached us we returned to base where we were awarded medals and returned out kit and headed home leaving an excited throng queuing to meet Father Christmas and enjoy food from the caterers.

The first time the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity has hosted this event. Previously known as Poole Hospital Charity, the charities are now merged under Dorset.

The event had 150 participants, who'd each raised money for the charity. Many participants had signs on their numbers to say who they were walking for, loved family and friends who had benefited from the hospitals. Ellie and Esther met pre event to do a 5k around the local Whitecliff and Poole Park. Ellie lives a 45 min drive away and had made the drive just to support us! She is currently completing 12 marathons in 12 months often with a dog in hand! She has also completed over 40 different park runs across the country which is pretty impressive numbers!

We met Becky and her partner Richard at the event base, he had kindly agreed to join us for an extra pair of hands! Lisa was a last minute entry but proved really helpful to organisers!

The event had many volunteers from Lions Club and other places who'd had come to help. Many of them were elderly themselves, great to see them support this event. The organiser Sara asked us to Tail walk and take the furthest away marshal spots as this was harder for other marshal's to get to as less able.

Ellie, Lisa, Richard and Becky headed to the far end of course ready for a couple of runners and mostly walkers to come past whilst Esther took a lovely walk around at the back!

We picked up signs and made sure everyone was in at end. There was even pizza offered to all entrants and marshalls!

The organisers were really grateful for our help and it was definitely worth our time coming out to help!

We will help again at the next October event!

Poole Hospital Charity run this Elf Dash annually to raise much needed funds for equipment.

Our job was pretty simple, we are there to direct the runners and keep them safe as marshals.

We all met at 10.30 at Speedway and a walk around the course to know our positions. Turns out to be much nippier than expected so we jumped into the North Pole bus for a mince pie and warm up till it was duty time.

It was a short course of approx 2km and questions to answer along the way. Parents joined in so it was a very relaxed affair. Some amazing outfits along the way, kids and all times of elfs!

The warm up was headed up by Goodgym too, so I got to use my daughter's examples of being beans to be the Mexican, French, runner, string and broad bean to get everyone going!

Definitely time for a cuppa after!