A gaggle of goodgymmers ran and cycled all the way up to Waterhall to help Brighton Food Partnership (BFP) keep the clubhouse in good order. BFP have a lease on the clubhouse and rent it out for private parties, events and weddings to raise much needed funds for their efforts to use food to bring people in the community together. Rachel had heard that an Adder* had recently bitten a dog nearby so we were on high alert!

On the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK, we were greeted by Rob with delicious cold drinks and given an overview of the tasks. We split into two groups, one to clean the huge windows looking out over the South Downs and the other to weed the pathway from the carpark to the clubhouse to make it wheelchair accessible. Luckily the temperature had cooled slightly and it was very pleasant in the shade. Rob provided a huge array of tools to help us on our way.

It was tough conditions to work in but we made sterling progress in clearing the path and sheening up the window. Job done we ran, cycled and bussed back home to try and somehow stay cool.

*Adders can grow upto 80cm and are the UK's only poisonous snake species (1). They are heavily protected and bites are unlikely to be a problem for humans - the last recorded death was a 5 year old boy in 1975 (2).

(1) https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/reptiles-and-amphibians/adder/

(2) https://www.surrey-arg.org.uk/SARG/07000-Publications/Guides/Langham%20-%20Fatalities%20attributed%20to%20adder%20bite%20in%20Britain%20.pdf

Three GoodGymers in 30 degree heat took on what can only be described as a jungle… slash small unexplored continent for Clarion Housing this week, helping Ms T reclaim her very steep and seriously overgrown garden. In a Brighton heatwave like this, it felt less like a community mission and more like an audition for I’m A GoodGymmer, Get Me Out Of Here. Armed with an astonishing collection of gardening tools (seriously, we’ve never seen so many), we ventured bravely into the wilderness, carefully navigating towering weeds, brambles, and enough nettles to keep a pharmacist busy for weeks. Sherman quickly became the undisputed “Lord of the Strim”, transforming from GoodGym runner to full-time jungle warrior. Roy tackled the dense undergrowth like a man on a mission, and Annette proved to the gang that yes, girls, really can sweat!! Despite the blazing heat and the almost vertical slope, in just 90 minutes we managed to clear an incredible amount of space. Paths reappeared, fences saw daylight again, and whole sections of the garden emerged from leafy depths. Most importantly, we were able to make a huge difference for Ms T who was so incredibly grateful of the support.
From jungle to joy, what amazing work from the Mission Team today🌿☀️

This morning at Queen’s Park Junior Parkrun, I took on the role of tail walker on what turned out to be a glorious sunny day. The warm weather brought plenty of smiles from runners, volunteers, and spectators alike, making for a really positive atmosphere around the course.

We also welcomed some speedy visiting runners who certainly kept the pace high at the front of the field, while I made sure everyone at the back was supported and encouraged all the way to the finish. It was great to see so many juniors enjoying themselves, whether they were chasing PBs or simply soaking up the sunshine and community spirit.

A lovely morning of volunteering, sunshine, and junior parkrun energy all round!

I volunteered with GoodGym at Queens Park Junior Parkrun. I helped as a marshal on the course, cheering on the children as they completed the run and helping to keep the event safe and encouraging for everyone taking part.

It was great to see so many young runners enjoying themselves and supporting each other throughout the event. Everything ran smoothly and all went well on the day.

Yesterday, GoodGym Brighton supported a community task at the Brighthelm Centre, a well-established community venue in the heart of Brighton that provides spaces for meetings, events, conferences, and community activity. The task was framed as a local “green clean action” session at Brighthelm Centre, together with other volunteers encouraged to bring gloves and turn up ready to help.

Led by Brighthelm Centre’s gardeners, we cleared weeds from the pavements, cut back encroaching greenery, litter-picked, and tidied the entire outdoor space. It was lovely to meet lead gardener John and work alongside him. We may have missed the window cleaning task, but I’m sure we’ll be back on another occasion.

Next, our Task Force met to plan future GoodGym sessions and support the GoodGym WorkOut for the Future campaign. A social gathering for our birthday in July was also on the agenda.

Happy GoodGym-ing!

When I have rang Mrs. K's doorbell, I found no one answer. I checked the map again to make sure the location and keep trying several times...Finally Mrs. K answered me. She said she was confused because her referrer told her GoodGym visit should be on Sunday instead. I understand her concern and worry, I show her the emails between mission control and me before she letting me in. It's easy to insert the extra battery to the wheelchair, however, only one cable connect to the motors. So, I read the user manual and the first sentence said "only one battery is used per time" & the 2nd battery is for backup in case the main one is drained during outing. Mrs. K said the dealer told her both batteries can be used at the same time that's why she willing to pay extra. Therefore, I suggested her to call the customer services and I keep checking out all the spare parts and cables provided from the packing. Then, I found a 3 heads cable which can connect both battery and to the motors. At the same time, Mrs. K received a installation video from the CS which is exactly the same I did. From now on, Mrs. K can move anywhere she want (including toilet she said 😉) during hospital visits instead seeking help.

Mrs. K said there are overgrowth tree branches which covering half of the car and it can't be used for long. So, I help to cut and remove those overgrowth branches before I left.