Each Monday morning, GoodGym lends a hand at the South Ealing Food Cupboard, helping the volunteers get surplus food sorted and ready for the local community.

This week’s haul was a more regular size, but still had plenty to keep us busy. Mohamed and Iram teamed up to tackle bags of carrots and piles of potatoes. Thankfully, the eggs arrived already neatly portioned into half-dozens, a much smoother job than last week’s egg marathon!

Alongside the veg, we stocked the shelves with cartons of oat milk, hot sauce and lots of popcorn. Whether patrons are making a healthy salad or settling in for a film night, this week’s delivery had them covered.

As part of the weekly sessions that bring together GoodGym volunteers with the Achilles International team, I participated this week as a running guide in a special training session held at the Paddington Rec Track, after we met at Maida Vale underground station on Thursday evening.

This initiative is part of the ongoing collaboration with Achilles International, a sports charity that embraces people of all abilities and provides them with a supportive and safe environment to exercise alongside trained guides. These sessions aim to support visually impaired runners, helping them develop their athletic skills while fostering a spirit of community participation.

The session included 11 professional guides, 10 visually impaired (VI) runners, and a support team of 2 people. Enthusiasm was evident on the Paddington Rec Track, where the atmosphere was marked by mutual encouragement and positive energy.

I am proud to be part of this wonderful team, which includes a distinguished group of athletes with disabilities, as well as a group of volunteer guides, both experienced and new. The training varied throughout the session, including recovery runs, tempo runs, and interval workouts, all amid a lively atmosphere filled with enthusiasm and mutual support on the track.

This type of event not only enhances physical fitness but also contributes to building meaningful human relationships based on trust, respect, and teamwork.

I am honored to be part of this ongoing volunteer work and look forward to many more upcoming sessions with GoodGym and Achilles International.