Pam had 5 of her regular group and 2 GoodGymers that day to clear and beautify the space behind a commemorative bench dedicated to Iris. The family had visited a couple of weeks back and said that there used to be Irises growing there so that what we did, should see them next Spring! Great transformation and perfect day.

I took my volunteering one step further this weekend by parkwalking at South Norwood parkrun. It turned out to be a lovely way to spend a couple of hours outdoors, enjoying the fresh air, supporting fellow parkrunners and proving that sometimes the best pace is a GoodGym pace. I was happy to go the extra mile without actually going the extra mile!

After helping to keep everyone on the right track, I walked away with a smile and headed to the park café, which is also run by volunteers, to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was the perfect opportunity to pause for applause, put my feet up and enjoy some well-earned cake.

From parkwalk to park cake, the morning really stepped up. It was a reminder that volunteering is all about putting your best foot forward, helping your community one step at a time, and occasionally following the well-trodden path to tea, cake and good company. A truly walk-tastic way to spend a Saturday!

Dear Brenda

Thank you for volunteering to help at Queen Elizabeth parkrun today.

It’s such a pleasure and a privilege to be Run Director when we have brilliant volunteers like you, who add so much to the day — and without you the event simply cannot take place!

After finishing my volunteering role as a token sorter at the Lloyd Parkrun, I decided to take part in a gardening task in Croydon for the first time.

When I arrived, Pam, the task owner, greeted me with a big hug, even though she had never met me before. Her warm welcome immediately made me feel comfortable and included. I also met several GoodGym Croydon members who regularly take part in this task every two weeks.

Pam began by showing us around Coombe Wood Gardens and sharing some of the history of this beautiful hidden gem. The gardens were originally developed for Arthur Lloyd, with James Pulham & Son designing the famous rock garden, pool and waterfall. The gardens were opened to the public in 1948 after Croydon Corporation purchased the estate. Today, they are maintained by the London Borough of Croydon.

Pam also shared how she became involved as a volunteer and explained how passionate she is about preserving the beauty of the gardens. As I walked around Coombe Wood, I felt as though I had been transported to the Peak District. Pam joked that the original design was intended to give visitors the feeling of being somewhere like Stonehenge.

After the tour, Pam showed us where the gardening tools were kept and divided us into two groups. One group worked on clearing an area that was heavily covered in ivy, while the group I joined focused on cutting back dry plants and ivy and spreading wood chippings over a weed barrier. It was amazing to see how much the area changed as we worked.

While Eunice, another GoodGym volunteer, and I were working, several visitors stopped to compliment us on our efforts and the improvements we were making. Their positive comments were very encouraging and made the work feel even more rewarding.

At the end of the task, Pam kindly treated us to a well-earned coffee and explained how much our help contributes to maintaining the gardens. She was also delighted to see so many volunteers taking part that day.

I really enjoyed the experience, especially Pam''s warm and welcoming nature. She was very friendly, helpful, and made me feel comfortable from the moment I arrived. I also enjoyed learning about the history of Coombe Wood Gardens, meeting fellow volunteers, and helping to maintain such a beautiful and valuable community space. It was a very rewarding experience, and I look forward to taking part in more gardening tasks in the future.

Saturdays Parkrun has become a regular part of my routine, and this time I joined Lloyd Parkrun in Croydon. It is known as one of the more challenging Parkruns in London, especially during the winter when the muddy and uneven terrain can make the course even harder. I was a little nervous because running is not my strongest skill, but as this was going to be my last Parkrun in Croydon, I felt determined to take part.

My finishing time was not my best, as I was already feeling tired after a busy week. However, during the run, I noticed a sentence that really encouraged me: “No matter how slow you think you are, you are still lapping everyone sitting on the sofa.” That simple message gave me extra motivation and reminded me that taking part was more important than my finishing time.

After completing the run, I stayed behind to volunteer as a token sorter. This gave me the opportunity to meet more people and become part of the Parkrun community. I really enjoyed seeing the teamwork behind the event and helping to make sure everything was organised after the runners had finished.

Later, when I arrived at my second GoodGym task, I discovered that Ian, another GoodGymer, had also been at the same Parkrun. He had been volunteering as a Parkwalker. Ian told me that, a few weeks earlier, he had even had the opportunity to meet a London Olympic runner at Lloyd Parkrun. I thought this was amazing and showed me how many interesting people and experiences can come from being involved in the running and volunteering community.

Overall, it was a challenging but rewarding Saturday. I was proud that I pushed myself to complete the run, even though I was tired and worried about my running ability. Most importantly, I enjoyed being part of the Parkrun community and meeting people through volunteering. As this was my last Lloyd Parkrun in Croydon, I am glad I finished it by both running and giving something back as a volunteer.

A big thank you to our three GoodGym volunteers who supported Croydon parkruns this weekend, with two at Roundshaw Downs and one at South Norwood. Parkrun relies entirely on volunteers, so if you have some time free on a Saturday morning, please consider signing up to help at your local event.