First off, welcome to the first timers that took part in their first run and good deed with GoodGym Lewisham - hope you all enjoyed your evening and that we’ll see you again soon!

News from Lewisham this week:

• Well done to everyone who took part in the GoodGym Olympics at the weekend, you did us all proud! A special well done to Vic who was first lady in the 5000m, looking strong on those photos too!
• Community litter picking mission before Hilly Fields Parkrun (much nicer weather than the week before). Big well done on making the park a nicer place for everyone especially during the summer months when there’s an increased amount of litter.
• Big cheers for Emma and Monica who where out and about carrying out tasks for isolated elderly people in the community that wouldn’t be able to complete them themselves!

The task this evening was a longer run than usual (everyone did fantastic) over to Wildcat Wilderness, a favourite of GoodGym Lewisham.

Everyone was completing the same task this evening...berry picking! I know a lot of you look forward to this particular task around this time of the year.

The group (armed with containers) dispersed over the entire site, seeing who could pick the most berries. Maria informed us that the more lucrative spots are towards the back, the less commonly ventured areas so of course, that was the way the majority headed.

Before we knew it time was up and everyone started gathering together, waiting on edge to see just how many blackberries we’d collected. The big reveal....in just over half an hour....we collected....OVER 7 KILOS!!! Well done everyone, amazing effort. The blackberries will now be used to make jam which will be sold at Wildcat Wilderness events and other local events - keep your eye out for it!

Berry much appreciated!

Maria informed us that in the last 12 months we have visited Wildcat 10 times, that totals a whole lot of volunteering - everyone should be really proud of being a part of that!!

If you’d like more info on events and volunteering at Wildcat: https://wildcatwilderness.org

Group photo done and we made our way back to Glassmill for a stretch and cool down.

Next week we are running to Hither Green Station and there could even be the opportunity to wear high vis! Sign up here.

After a weekend of rain, red T-shirt’s began gathering in Glassmill foyer, making the most of the sunshine and ready to run and do good.

Welcome to our first timer, Julia, and to those that haven’t been for a couple of months due to injury - I hope you enjoyed your evening of doing good in Lewisham.

News this week: - we had quite a few people taking part in the final stage of the London Relay - well done everyone! - let’s not forget the people that have volunteered during the event, I know there were a couple of night shift volunteering happening this week - great effort keeping everything running smoothly - it was Emma’s 200th good deed at the weekend which she did at a mission, helping an isolated older person with a task they wouldn’t be able to complete themselves - give her a big cheer when you next see her!

Our task this evening was a short run up hill to Luxmore Gardens (which meant we had the down hill to look forward to on the way back). On arrival we checked out the new water fountain that had been installed since our last visit and has options for humans and dogs!

Main tasks this evening were weeding the flower beds, clearing some plants that had overgrown on one of the walls/fences and watering all the plants especially the shrubs.

Once we knew exactly what was a weed and what wasn’t, everyone got stuck in with the tasks. There was a lot of looking at plants/leaves going on, working out what type of plant it was and whether it should be dug up. some people played it safe and targeted the grass that had taken over in some areas, others expanded their knowledge of plants and working out which to dig up.

Because it was a shorter run we had plenty of time to get everything done but it still wasn’t long before it was time to be depositing all the piles of weeds into the compost heap and gathering together for a group photo.

We made our way back to Glassmill with a couple of people peeling off on the way back (maybe they’d heard that I’d asked Amber lead the fitness session or maybe the call of their dinner was too strong!!). Thanks Darryl for keeping everyone together at the back of the group, we arrived at Glassmill in one group ready for a quick fitness session (big thanks Amber) that involved squats, press ups and planks, and in pairs to encourage and motivate each other.

Next week we are off to Wildcat Wilderness, it’s a slightly longer run but lovely run through Ladywell Fields and broken up with the task in the middle - details here to sign up.

If anyone fancies a community mission (details to sign up here)at the weekend then there is litter picking pre-Hilly Fields Parkrun, meet around 8ish with a bag and some gloves.