We ventured into new territory to do some prep ahead of our next leaflet delivery task. Four GoodGymers ran to our first leaflet folding session at the Orange Tree, with Jen impressing everyone with her trekking exploits and Andy scaring the local dogs. We met Fay and Sallyann and the leaflets at the venue, and got to work compiling the information for half a dozen good causes. After Rich made a quick dash home for some plastic bags to carry the bundles away, we watched the sun set as we made our way back, with Martin, Jen and Andy discussing GoodGym protocol about when to start getting out heads torches out again.

A pun only those of Andy's age may get.

There was initial consternation from the GoodGym Chelmsford leadership that not enough people were signed up for the huge number of leaflets, but it should not have been a concern as Richard 'the postman' (he always delivers) was there.

Fay like baa baa black sheep, had three bags full and they all got delivered. Hit the leafletting so hard that there is only one photo!

Only the strongest ran all the way there and back, Jen and Laurie.

Great work, for a huge number of local charities.

While I cannot speak for Farid, what an effort.

Two bacon and egg sandwiches. One burger. Two flapjack. Countless quality street.

Oh, and we collected 93 trees. Andy with his usual atrocious white van driving.

The Christmas tree collection has helped raise over £73,000 for the fantastic work that Farleigh Hospice do.

Thank you to all volunteers, especially those who provided us with food!

Our final group run of 2025!

We met the lovely Callum from Active Essex, joining us to learn a bit more about GoodGym so it can be promoted to more people around Chelmsford.

It was a very important evening for us: not only the last group run of 2025, but we were also going for drinks and takeaway afterwards. I made it clear that there was no time to waste with chatting - specifically aiming this instruction at Rich, Andy, and Russell.

Fay, Jess and Joel set off walking with the leaflets (beautifully folded as ever), whilst the rest of us took a slightly longer way out to run to meet at our starting point on Broomfield Road. We didn't get off to a good start at all - the first lot of houses had no letterboxes. We sped off up Swiss Avenue, and meandered our way round the surrounding streets until we got all the leaflets delivered. Apologies to Russell - he didn't time waste and probably delivered the most leaflets.

I was SO focused on getting the task done, I only took one photo. It's a good one though, especially of Jane. Hopefully Callum's photos were good and I can add them on afterwards!

Thank you all for a great 2025, and see you in 2026, if not at Christmas Day parkrun.

Merry Christmas!

Laurie

Winter has come!brrrrrrrrr.🥶

After deciding that it was far too cold to run we decided that tonights task of leafleting would be a fully walking group session.

We met in the Old factory car park where Fay met a few people dropping off some donations for the xmas food drop.

Tonights task was to deliver leaflets for a plethora of local charities leaflets that some are in the broomfield area, so we decided to canvas the Avenues, starting at first and seeing how far we got.

With Ben and Jess on one side if the avenue and Fay and Andy on the other we flew along chatting away about many a topic but also next weeks social at the all you can eat, SAN restaurant. Which we decided that those who turned up this evening shouldn't have to pay for.... did i mention it was very cold? 😉

We managed to get as far as fifth avenue before we ran out of leaflets before quickly returning to base to warm up.

Thanks for coming guys, and next week will be a walk and talk with the ideas hub. Hope to see you there.

until then, RUN HAPPY

Rich

10 GoodGymers made quick work of preparing a bumper crop of leaflets ready for our leaflet drop next week. The leaflets were sorted and folded in no time, which meant we could have a chinwag as we finished our drinks before the run back to HQ!

We will be leafletting along the avenues next week, you can sign up here: