On Monday the 16th of December we took part in a very special session.

Nicola, Edward, Doug, Sarah and Annette (on her first session) helped the Choir with No Name.

We firstly helped Nostos unload the food and set up the tables for the choir’s meal. Then serving their meal in the renovated Corn Exchange before they performed their annual Big Christmas Singalong to a sold out Brighton Dome!

The Choir was set up for people who have experience of homelessness and or social exclusion. It is a community initiative creating a supportive, empowering community in Brighton and other major cities around the country. Stefania our Area Activator also volunteers with the choir alongside the many other things she does for the community. After the choir had eaten their fill, we also were offered a tasty meal. The amazing food was provided by Greek Restaurant Nostos in Holland Road, Hove.

A group of 10 GoodGym-ers then watched the uplifting performance. It was truly moving and guaranteed to get you in the Christmas Spirit.

It was moving in more ways than one as we had to jump up and do a different action for the 12 days of Christmas! Those with January birthdays had an especially good workout!

Choir members told the audience what the choir meant to them and how it gave them a sense of community and joy.

We were delighted to have a shout out at the end.

“On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me….GOODGYM!”

One of the longer distances to a mission for much of the GoodGym Brighton crowd, we ran and wheeled our way out west to Vale Park in the beautiful late summer sunshine.

Main mission: removing a huge proliferation of dock plants and bindweed from the park’s beloved yellow rose bed, giving the roses space to really do their thing.

Yellow roses are aptly a symbol of friendship and we always welcome new friends at GoodGym Brighton! Tonight, we were joined by Harrison, Edward, and Nick on their first GoodGym community mission.

Working under the excellent direction of Lucy and other Friends of Vale Park we donned gardening gloves and spread ourselves around the rose beds. Moving between waves of excited chatter and meditative hush, we pulled up plants and unwound bind weed from branches and stems. At points we were all so hidden in the depths of the flowerbeds that only occasional flashes of red t-shirt gave us away.

Creating an ever-growing pyramid of leaves adjacent to the flower bed, we stacked our spoils higher and higher like a childhood game of dare until the pile eventually slumped. Then started all over again.

Roses freed, we ran off into the sunset like the subtle superheroes we all are.

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Ciao Ciao Carla, Bye Bye, lovely friend and GoodGym Brighton Hero.

Tonight, with a sightly tingled heart, GoodGym Brighton said GoodBye to you but we truly believe it is only a "Bye For Now" . Wherever you'll go you will be always shining, having fun and keep dancing💃. You are already a lovely and confident GoodGym Fitness Run Leader and, soon, so you will become for GoodGym Warwick & Leamington Spa. 'Lucky they are' :-), says Stefania

Be [GoodGym] always with you!

You might move elsewhere but our friendship stays forever, and we will be here waiting for your return ❤.

A good - if rather warm! - time had by one and all on the August installment of the (in)famous GoodGym Brighton monthly trail run.

We tackled an 11km loop of the River Adur, starting in Shoreham and finishing in the surreal art deco surrounds of the Hummingbird Resaurant at Brighton City Airport.

A uncharacterisitcally flat route for the South Downs meant lots of time to take in the scenery, appreciate the wildlife (egrets and swans - a - plenty) and catch up with other GG-ers as we ran. Our trail followed part of the Downs Link, taking in beautiful views of the Adur Valley, Lancing College Chapel and ye olde Beeding Cement Works. The Hummingbird Restaurant proved a perfect spot for some post run re-fuelling, watching the small planes and helicopters taxi around (bringing back vivid memories of Budgie the Little Helicopter) and an occasionally spectacular landing on the small runway.