30 people ran between 5-8k to help out at urban orchard in Kings Cross and a womens theatre group in Kentish town.

Who we helped.

Urban Orchard Project- They help to restore, create and plant community orchards. Here's what they say;

A community orchard isn’t just a collection of trees, it’s a community of people working together to make the local area a better place to live, work and enjoy.

Yes.

Clean Break- here's a synopsis from their website too.

Clean Break was set up in 1979 by two women prisoners who believed that theatre could bring the hidden stories of imprisoned women to a wider audience. Still the only women’s theatre company of its kind today, Clean Break has remained true to these roots, continuing to inspire playwrights around the complex theme of women and crime - enlightening and entertaining audiences. Integral to this, is the company’s long-established theatre-based education and training programme enabling women offenders and those at risk of offending to develop personal, social, professional and creative skills leading to education and employment.

Yes

What we did

We had 3 jobs at the Orchard; weeding around the bases of trees, clearing leaves, and breaking up some rubble. All jobs are important at this moment in time. The leaves and weeds are nutrient sappers, preventing water and light reaching the bits we want them too and the rubble will come in useful if turned into useful bricks. The guys at Alara don't like to waste anything. Alex started the business way back in the 70's and it's a pretty amazing story. Read it here

We broke into 2 separate teams and absolutely creamed through it. Im not sure we have ever been as efficient and organised (both traits are low on my skill-set list), but we were running out of weeds to yank within 25mins.

Here's Steve's take on the extravaganza at Clean Break;

A dedicated group of ten goodgymers braved the firework strewn streets of Kentish Town to clear rubbish and do weeding for Clean Break. We were tidying up their communal garden area so they can make more use of it. A speedy trot both ways enabled us to complete the task and join the main group and collect a box of muesli from the guys at the the Orchard. An excellent evenings work.

As a treat for helping out the guys at Alara kindly gave us a box of muesli to thank us. Muesli is fantastic as a wholesome morning treat but not so good to run with. We gave it a bash though with some guys willing to carry 2 boxes in order for others to have a blast out along the Regents Canal.

We got back to Somers Town with time for a quick stretch and a conflab' before we headed off home (for many the local boozer is now a second home after all!).