On Friday, a colourful crew of GoodGym members laced up (or turned up!) for the Rainbow Run — a joyful, inclusive 5K hosted by the Brighton & Hove Frontrunners as part of Pride celebrations.

Some of us came to run, proudly wearing rainbow socks, sequins, and smiles. Others showed up to marshal the route with enthusiasm and cheers, keeping runners safe and spirits high. And of course, a few GoodGym-ers made it their mission to cheer, snap photos, and support with the energy only our group can bring.

After the last runners crossed the line, most of us stuck around to help with the less glamorous but just as vital job of dismantling the race area — yes, that meant taking down bunting, taking out flags and poles, and de-glittering whatever we could.

The Rainbow Run wasn’t just a 5K — it was a celebration of inclusion and visibility, open to ALL runners: those who run fast or slow, those who run alone or with others, those who run on both sides of the road, those who cross the road when running, those who run in secret and those who don’t. The Rainbow Run was for everyone.

A huge thank you to Graham from B&H Frontrunners for all the brilliant organising and ideas that made the event run smoothly, to Rosie and Pippa for suggesting we get involved in the first place, and to El, who travelled all the way from Worthing to join the fun.

We wrapped up the day in true GoodGym style — with a picnic in the park. There was sunshine, laughter, great company, and yes — of course — I brought hummus. It also happened to be my birthday, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend it than surrounded by this wonderful GoodGym community. I’m so grateful for the joy, the support, and the shared silliness — truly the best birthday gift of all. 🌈💪🏃‍♀️🎉

While the world may be getting harder out there, events like Rainbow Run remind us why it matters to come together, to celebrate, and to keep running — for joy, for each other, and for a more colourful world.

Heene Community Gardens has been a long-term project for Worthing GoodGym – and tonight, we hit another major milestone in this journey .Over the past couple of years, we've fought the battle against weeds, uneven ground, and wild overgrowth... and it finally feels like we're winning!

We were warmly greeted this evening by Rik and Val, the tireless volunteers from St Botolph’s Church who have supported the garden’s development from the very beginning. Val’s long-held vision for the garden was visibly closer to reality tonight – and she couldn’t have been more grateful

The evening's mission was to lay paving stones along the garden path leading to the notice board, on top of a weed-suppressing black membrane. A precise, physical task – but nothing this team couldn’t handle.

Paul , John and Rickygot straight to work preparing the ground, as best they could , ensuring it was as level and firm as possible before the slabs went down.

They were soon joined by El and Roxy who set about weeding and tidying.

In just one hour, the transformation was complete: a smart, clean path guiding visitors to the notice board, with surrounding areas freshly weeded and looking their best.

Val was delighted. We were proud. The garden is starting to become the beautiful, welcoming community space she always imagined.

👏 Huge well done to Paul, John, Ricky, El, and Roxy – each of you brought something different tonight, and together it made a real impact.

Thank you all :)

Julia xx

Helping Out at Heene Cemetery

Tonight, the GoodGym team gathered for a special mission at the beautifully atmospheric Heene Cemetery, a closed graveyard and conservation area designated as one of outstanding natural beauty. Our hosts for the evening were the ever-dedicated Sue, who helps maintain the cemetery grounds, and Dora a passionate fox guardian currently caring for Elf and his adorable family of cubs who reside among the gravestones.

Our tasks for the evening were clear (and nicely ambitious!):

Removing ivy from the ancient Sussex stone wall Clearing grass strimmings from the graves Tidying space around the flourishing apple trees. General Tidying and Pruning

The team quickly got stuck in with their usual energy and good spirits. John, Belinda, and Anne led the charge against the ivy, carefully pulling back years of creeping growth from the stonework. This was quite some feat and pretty epic. With what John pulled away from the wall , it clearly that all the strength training with me is paying off!

Meanwhile, Pauland Stéphane turned their attention to the orchard area, clearing under the apple trees to allow them more room to breathe.

On grave-duty, Ryan , Mel and Sarah tackled the freshly strimmed grass, lifting the cuttings off graves and pathways to leave the cemetery looking neat and respected.

Elsewhere, El and Gillybean showcased their multitasking prowess by pruning and tidying across multiple areas, all under the curious gaze of Elf the fox.

In true GoodGym style, there was a touch of mischief too, John had sneakily buried a fake skeleton hand under the grass strimmings for Sarah to discover giving her a good laugh once the trick was revealed. But the spooky vibes didn’t stop there — not long after, a real bird foot and leg mysteriously fell from the sky, landing right in front of me . Whether it was a strange coincidence or a little message from the cemetery’s resident spirits, we will never know. Personally I blame John 🤷

After a full hour of productive work, we wrapped up the evening with a lovely surprise: Sue kindly shared some of her birthday cake with us all — a nice end to a great (and slightly eerie!) evening.

Thank you to everyone who came out, and to Sue and Dora for their work and hospitality. We’ll be back in early October to help keep this special place looking its best.

Have a great week !

Julia xx

GoodGym Volunteers Brave the Heatwave to Support Care for Veterans Fair Clean-Up

In the midst of July’s intense heatwave, a dedicated team of GoodGym volunteers came together to provide much-needed support to the Care for Veterans residential home, helping to clear away a successful community summer fair.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the amazing team who turned up despite soaring temperatures. Barbara, along with her sister Jacqui and son Matt, brought great energy and team spirit. Special thanks also to Paul, who, after leading his cadets through the afternoon’s fair activities, generously stayed on to lend a hand with the clean-up.

Joining the effort were Roxy, Ricky, El, and Stephane—each one rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in with good humour and determination. And a big shoutout to Sue, who came straight from a sea swim and still had the strength to help pack down!

Between us, we dismantled the entire fair: tables, chairs, stalls, gazebos, bric-a-brac, drinks (both soft and otherwise!), and all the many extras that come with a well-loved community event. It was a big job in hot conditions, but one that the team tackled with fantastic teamwork and resilience.

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, the site was left spotless and all equipment safely packed away. It was a fantastic job all round for a truly wonderful cause.

Well done team—Care for Veterans and the whole community applaud you!