Michael
56
Good Deeds
Workouts
251
Cheers given
130
Cheers received
310
Member
Doing good since November 2023
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Latest activity
Michael went on a group run
Wed 14th Jan at 6:45pm
Greenwich Report written by Sarah M
It's week two of the 2026 January Challenge, and this week's Wednesday group run took 12 GoodGymers to the Prince Phillip Maritime Collection Centre in Kidbrooke. This is one of our regular missions, often involving moving pallets, ceiling panels & boats, but tonight's task was an adventure in winter gardening.
We got to the task ready for anything after a run from Charlton House, where we were briefed on our tasks, including some weeding of the raised beds, a spot of litterpicking, and turning of the compost heap - you could say we were met with a worm welcome...! The compost project involved removing the top layer of vegetation, spreading the soil beneath on the plant beds, and replacing that plant matter back - a quick biogeography lesson in practice for us, and a great growing environment for the fresh plants come spring!
As usual, time slipped through our gardening gloved fingers, so it was time for a group photo and back to our roots. Great work all & see you soon 😊
Ps. check out our insta video to see an overview of the session!
Coming up...
As well as our regular Parkruns volunteering, on Saturday we have leafleting for the White Swan and Sunday is our 10th birthday celebration when we'll be renovating the pond at Brooklands and heading to Sapori's for pizza afterwards!
Next wednesday we're painting at Charlton Manor Primary School.!
Michael went on a group run
Mon 5th Jan at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Goodgym Islington returned for our first group run session of 2026, meeting back at the Arsenal Community Hub. A pretty chilly winters evening, but we soon warmed up by running a pleasant 1km over to Highbury Fields with Alice, Emily, Michael and first time Goodgymmer Sami (welcome!).
Together, we arrived outside the Better Highbury Fields swimming baths to find the official recycling point for Christmas trees. Traditionally, it is recommended to remove a festive tree from your home by the 12th day after Christmas (to avoid bad luck), so our task for the evening was to pick up as many trees as possible around the Highbury borough, and to bring them to the drop off point. In doing so, we hope to reduce the extra work and resources required by Islington council workers to recycle these trees.
Within 45 minutes, our two Goodgym teams successfully transported 15 trees safely to the drop off point, while getting a really great workout for the arms! We took a celebratory photo together, with a beautiful "waxing gibbous" moon lighting up in the sky. Well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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SESSIONS IN JANUARY
Community Mission - Regent's Canal Plogging and River fowl feeding Monday 12th January, 7.15pm, The Arc Centre, Islington
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/community-mission-regent-s-canal-plogging-and-water-fowl-feeding
Group Run - Camden Estate Gardens Monday 19th January, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
Community Mission - Thornhill Square Gardens Monday 26th January, 7.15pm, Thornhill Square Gardens
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/community-mission-thornhill-square-gardens-bulb-planting
Group Run - Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens Monday 2nd February, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
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Goodgym Social & Area Activator Simon’s Last Session
Monday 2nd February, 8.30pm, The Tollington Arms, Islington
After 6.5 years, Area Activator Simon will be hosting his final group run session with Goodgym Islington this evening.
After our group run to Highbury Quadrant Estate, we will be making a trip to the award winning local pub, The Tollington Arms, less than 200m away from our bag drop location on Benwell Road!
As well as offering excellent refreshments, the pub has been well known for offering delicious Thai food with loads of varied dietary and vegan options available!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/aa-simon-s-last-session-the-tollington-arms-arsenal
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
JANUARY
Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground) Thursday 8th January, 6pm
Stratford Olympic Park (Stratford underground station Westfield exit) Thursday 15th January, 6pm
Emirates Stadium (Arsenal underground) Thursday 22nd January, 6pm
Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground) Thursday 29th January, 6pm
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Track and Towpath - January Challenge Edition!
Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun mixed pace training session
Over the month of January, Simon will be hosting a weekly morning running workouts in various parks in the Islington and Tower Hamlets boroughs.
All paces and abilities welcome!
The intention is to build up fitness together towards the Runthrough Victoria Park 10km on Sunday 1st February.
Thursday 8th January 7.50am, Arsenal Community Hub, Emirates Stadium
Thursday 15th January 7.50am, Poplar Union, Bartlett Park
Thursday 22nd January 7.50am, Common Ground coffee, Finsbury Park
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-january-challenge-finsbury-park-kenyan-hills
Thursday 29th January 7.50am, Mile End Climbing Wall, Meath Gardens
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-january-challenge-meath-gardens-kilometres
Runthrough Victoria Park 10km Event!
Sunday 1st February, 9am, Victoria Park
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-runthrough-victoria-park-10km-february-2026
(Strava group link)
https://strava.app.link/3aQu4W5ISYb
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Caledonian Park junior parkrun- January 2026
Sunday mornings, 8.45am, Caledonian Park
Junior parkrun is a wonderful free weekly timed 2km social running initiative, with events occurring all across the UK (and now the world!).
Children aged from 4-14 years old are allowed to run this safe looped course in Caledonian Park however they like, with the encouragement of friendly marshals, volunteers and parents.
The core team are always on the lookout for:
Course marshals
Barcode scanners
Funnel managers
Course set-up and close down assistance
A tailwalker!
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Upcoming sessions:
Sunday 11th January
Sunday 18th January
Sunday 25th January
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Maria's Gardens, Isledon Gardens - Shed Building
Sunday 25th January, 11am - 1pm, Maria's Gardens, Islington
We are planning to lend a hand at Maria's Gardens, a Nature Trail between Isledon Gardens and the Sam Morris Nursery Gardens. One of the key objectives for this session is to build a new tool shed for the regular local gardening team.
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Green Guardians- Whittington Park Sessions
Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions, Whittington Park, Archway
We have six really interesting gardening session happening at Whittington Park. We'll be planting native wild flowers, hedging and bulbs, creating a stumper and planting fruit trees.
These are relaxed friendly sessions where the emphasis is on spending time outside in nature, whilst learning and sharing skills and meeting new people.
The sessions are free and open to all, though under 16's must be with a responsible adult. No experience is needed. We provide tools, gloves, guidance and refreshments.
Session Dates
Tuesday 6th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Orchard tree planting with the Orchard Project (with optional free volunteers lunch at 1pm)
Tuesday 13th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Wildlife hedge planting
Tuesday 20th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
Tuesday 27th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
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Next session
Tuesday 6th January, 10am - 12 midday:
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning
Saturday 17th January, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
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Penn Road Gardens Monthly Open Volunteer Morning
Sunday 25th January, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens, Islington
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road. Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/penn-road-gardens-open-morning
Michael signed up to a group run.
Mon 5th Jan at 6:45pm
Helping Islington Council with collecting Xmas Trees following the festive period
Read moreMichael went on a community mission
Mon 5th Jan at 10:30am
Redbridge Report written by Linda Sharman
We never know how much work there will be with a supermarket delivery to Frenford Foodbank, sometimes barely enough for one person, often two much for just two.
We set it up for four people and hoped for the best. As luck would have it we got four sign ups for a relatively small delivery. Michael and Peter were first on scene with Linda and Ed delayed picking up extra rice supplies.
By the time the rice arrived the delivery was pretty much offloaded. Never ones to waste good help we set about other valuable jobs of relabeling shelves, stock taking and date checking. All in all time well spent 😁
Michael signed up to a race.
Sun 21st Sep 2025 at 9:00am
Michael went on a group run
Mon 18th Aug 2025 at 6:30pm
Wandsworth Report written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
It was brilliant to see everybody for not one but two tasks last night. We set off with a quick round-up of news: the first ever donation from our GoodGym garden to Wandsworth Age UK – a large bag of home-grown potatoes, gratefully received and reportedly delicious. Great to see some familiar faces back for a visit, our lovely regulars, and a special shout out for Kamil too, who notched up his first parkrun at the weekend.
With that, we limbered up and shared predictions for the evening’s challenge: how many panes of glass we would manage to wash at Omnibus Theatre, a charity that brings the arts to the local community. Numbers ranged from optimistic to ambitious – and one person got very close to the final tally (more on that later).
After a zippy 2km run, we arrived to find buckets and cloths neatly lined up, ready and waiting. The group split into two squads: one to tackle the great glass clean-up, the other to give the GoodGym garden a bit of TLC.
The garden team were soon picking ripe tomatoes, and uncovering tiny treasures – like the brand new peppers that have just appeared. Meanwhile, the window crew got stuck straight in, leaving the panes sparkling in their wake.
By the end, we reunited to compare notes and count up the evening’s total: a grand total of 60 windows were washed, guessed most accurately by Rob!
There was still time for a tough but effective lower-body blast in the square before running back and then heading off to the pub, where we split forces again – this time across quiz tables and finishing 2nd and 6th. Great result!
Don't miss next week's Bank Holiday special: a lunchtime task! Sign up here
Michael signed up to a group run.
Mon 18th Aug 2025 at 6:30pm
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