🏆 A mega (post-COVID record-breaking) 40 people attended tonight’s group run. We kicked off December with a bang and donned our Christmassy cheer for some present-wrapping fun.

💪 But first, it was time to celebrate some excellent Goodgymmers. James T was named GoodGymmer of the month for his sterling work leading clothes swap and book sale tasks very regularly. Then we had not one but two PBs to celebrate from the weekend - Charlotte with a 5k and Matt with a 10k at the Abbey Dash. Amazing stuff everyone!

🎄 Next up, we had a Christmassy warm-up in the shape of (an abbreviated version of) the 12 squats of Christmas (a different exercise for each day of Christmas). Pete led the walking crew while Ed led and Laura backmarked the runners to Park Grove School.

🦁 Vicky met us there with our instructions - to wrap whatever was in front of us. For some people, that was incredibly cute teddy lions, for others it was keyrings.

🍭 And for others (not for the faint-hearted), it was pass the parcel. Wrapping up to 30 layers of paper and making sure there was a lollipop in each layer (cue lots of double-checking for lollies) was quite the challenge, but one that was impressively tackled by Team Parcel.

🍫 And if that pass the parcel wasn’t enough, once we’d finished wrapping, it was time for Vicky’s special fitness pass the parcel. With a different fitness challenge for each layer and the ultimate reward of a Crunchie for the winner, it was the perfect way to finish our task (especially for Alex who won the golden Crunchie).

☔️ Although the rain had held off on our run out, it wasn’t so kind for the return journey. The walkers therefore made the sensible decision to head straight to the pub where lots of the runners joined afterwards for a meeting to discuss the January Challenge. And with some exciting plans being made, there’s lots to be looking forward to (and some more fun group runs in the meantime).

👏 Thanks to Vicky for a really fun task, and to everyone for coming along.

What a great turnout for tonights task - thank you!

We welcomed back Joanne tonight who brought along her partner Ben to his first task, but hopefully first of many!

We quickly set about the job of cutting strips of paper into the specified size, then wrote some questionable jokes on the back! There were different methods- Ben had an efficient way of cutting, whilst team Babs and Claire divided into odds and evens.

Time flew by, and fueled by pizza, we managed to make 6 sets of 50 ready to be sent off to CAMHS to support young people in hospital at Christmas.

Great work for a great cause.

On a miserable cold and wet Friday evening, 9 GoodGymers were out raking it in for the good of Heworth Community centre. A squad armed with rakes and tarpaulin cleared a freshly cut grass area and provided much needed mulch for the growing woodland, while another break away group did their best to lay a woodchip path while a storm raged around them

The social option after task was taken by a few happy to brave the short journey to the pub and found a warm and bustling atmosphere along with a pint and some hearty pub grub.

A greatful Community Centre left behind and some good pub banter complete, they all headed off for some warm and dry clothing to watch the storm rage by.

💃 Ten excellent Goodgymmers came together for the Move Mates ceilidh. A night of dancing and frivolity, it’s certainly one not to miss.

🕺From manning the bar to selling raffle tickets to making up a dance set, us GoodGymmers are versatile in our volunteering skills and enthusiasm.

👋 We were thrilled to welcome Adepemi for her first task with us. Thank you so much for your help tonight, and we’re looking forward to hopefully seeing you again soon.

🎉 We’ve also discovered that incredibly, this was Babs’ 700th good deed! What an achievement, and here’s to many more 🥳