Sunday is definitely not a day of rest for Valentina, Kirsty, Hazel, and Ben! Fueled by the bottomless, rocket‑level energy of our tiniest but mightiest litter warriors, Noah and Luke, the team set out on a mission worthy of its own nature documentary.

In collaboration with Hazel Grove Mutual Aid, our fearless rubbish ramblers trekked across the car park road and the park by the Hazel Grove rail station, bravely confronting the wild world of fly‑tipped treasures. And what a collection it was: soft drink cans, beer bottles, rogue styrofoam, every McDonald’s item ever engineered — cups, trays, forks, straws, sauce tubs, possibly someone’s hopes and dreams — you name it, they found it.

By the end of the adventure, the crew had filled at least 16 bin bags with plastic, paper, glass, and metal. That’s right — sixteen. Enough rubbish to make even the most seasoned raccoon weep with pride.

Another Sunday well spent. Another victory against the chaos. And definitely another early bedtime for Noah and Luke. Also, it was Valentina's first GoodGym session! Welcome, Valentina (and Noah and Luke)! 😊

📸 Ben, Hazel, Kirsty

Dark, windy, and determined—the newspaper ninjas were out again! More than 200 Stockport homes (covering the area between Shaw Heath and Wellington Road) got their January Stockport Post delivered by the heroic squad: Mithra, Mandy, Hazel, Laura, and Ben. Mandy, Laura, and Ben sprinted to the meeting point like they were late for the Olympics, where Hazel and Mithra awaited—calm but chilling due to slapping winds. The first arrivals promptly glued themselves to the nearest wall in a desperate attempt to avoid being blown into a neighbouring postcode.

Step one of the mission? Folding newspapers one by one, because nothing says “professional operation” like DIY aerodynamic engineering or origami. Luckily, the papers doubled as a personal anti‑wind sandbags preventing the team from being yeeted into the sky by the wind. Despite the chill, the crew smashed the delivery in under an hour—efficiency level: elite. And because they apparently hadn’t suffered enough, they finished the evening with a few extra kilometres of running before parting ways.

Stockport Post: delivered. Team: spirits fying high! Stockport Homes: reading

P.S. Mithra was invited to the session as she got curious about GoodGym 😉

Credits: Laura Boldison - Run Leader

At -3°C, Woodbank parkrun wasn’t just a run—it was more “penguin shuffle with a side of frostbite chic.” With other local parkruns slipping into cancellation mode, Woodbank was the hottest (well, coldest) ticket in town.

Hazel decided to have her own 5k, so she ran to the venue first, mastering the penguin shuffle 🐧. Volunteers were thinner on the ground than the layer of grit on those frosty paths, so Maimoona was called up for the role of tail walker, aka “Chief Frost Wrangler.”

Hazel took up her post at the café marshal station, ensuring runners don't accidentally sled down the hill (or have a coffee break 😉) and instead follow the winter route like obedient snowflakes. Despite the cold turning hands and feet into frozen peas, the atmosphere was warmer than a mulled wine stand—full of frosty greetings, icy banters, and smiles that could melt glaciers.🥰

The cherry on this icy cake? Spotting Laura and Gill braving the chill. Because nothing melts your heart faster than familiar faces showing up when your toes have gone on strike. And yes, we all survived without turning into human popsicles.🥶✨

On a chilly first day of the year, Hazel gave herself a little push and arrived early at the venue to meet Brendan, the sole parkrun director at Woodbank, to discuss the volunteering task. With 120–170 runners showing up every Saturday, Hazel expected to be roped into marshalling duties. But surprise! There were more volunteers than runners could high-five today. So, in true “why not?” spirit, Hazel swapped the safety vest for trainers and joined the 5k run. And so, off she went—pounding the muddy paths, steep hill from Vernon to Woodbank Park, and questioning life choices somewhere around kilometer three. The reward? Not just the glory of finishing, but the sweet promise of chocolates at the end. Because nothing says “healthy start to the year” like sprinting for sugar. Hazel’s verdict: Not a bad start to 2026. Volunteering postponed, legs slightly shocked, but spirits high—and blood sugar higher.

Tuesday saw our annual return to the Warrick Drive Christmas lights in Hazel Grove. 🎅

Each year, an entire street of houses go above and beyond with their outdoor Christmas Decorations for charity. The chosen charities for 2025 are Anthony Nolan and Space4Autism. 🙌

We enjoyed festive baked goods and mince pies whilst appreciating the lights on display. ✨️

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. 🎄

It was another splendid evening of doing good and getting fit for Mandy, Hannah, Hazel, Laura, and Ben! Even the weather behaved itself—clearly trying to make a great first impression on Mandy for her debut GoodGym session. Welcome, Mandy!👏

They kicked things off with a gentle jog from Life Leisure, retracing their steps from last week’s flyering adventure. Along the way they scooped up Hannah, who joined the squad just in time for a highly strategic flyering discussion. This was not your average leaflet drop—oh no. This was tactical - there were brainstorming. There were zones. There was enthusiasm. Mandy even confessed she’d been training her cardio for two weeks in preparation, which is the kind of dedication that deserves its own medal… or at least a candy!

Their mission covered about 4km filled with catch-ups, stories, suspiciously timed CCTV appearances, dog barks ranging from friendly to “please don’t eat me,” and plenty of laughs/smiles😊—all while delivering flyers for Together Trust. Mission accomplished, team!

Slightly underwhelmed by tonight’s illuminations (they squinted, they tried), Laura is leading to chase brighter lights next week in Warwick’s. Don’t miss it—it's the GoodGym Stockport year-ender, and they fully intend to finish 2025 with a sparkle! ✨💖