Following a swift briefing safely tucked away out of earshot from the main stage, the team set off to support Full Cycle with their community bike ride. The route meandered through the quiet backstreets of Mitcham before entering the greenery of Morden Hall Park, looping back through Ravensbury Park, and taking in the scenic views along the River Wandle.

The group kept a relaxed, enjoyable pace, offering participants a chance to explore a local loop route that was brand new to some riders. It was brilliant to assist with a fresh initiative in Merton, and hopefully this inaugural ride paves the way for many more to come.

It was great to see so many of the team supporting on our stand collecting trainers for Jog-On and helping our friends at Full Cycle Community Bike Project and Merton Cycling Campaign with an action-packed Big Sports Day!

Our mission:

• Spreading the word - chatting with local residents about all things GoodGym, cycling, and active community projects.

• Trainer recycling - collecting pre-loved shoes for JogOn and directing people to do the same with old footwear to keep it out of landfill and get them re-used or recycled.

It was a busy day with various volunteers stopping by to help and take part. With a steady stream of participants at 'trainer-pong' and some surprising competitors, it was a fantastic showcase of collaboration and a chance to show ways to combine fitness with doing good.

Some of the team helped with other jobs, supporting with bike safety checks and promoting plans for creating a cycling hub in Merton, hoping for backing from local councillors and Merton Council for an accessible, community-driven bike hub to promote active travel, reduce carbon emissions, and expand low-cost transport options across the borough.

Well done everyone and a big shoutout to those who stayed on or joined us in the afternoon when we needed a boost later in the day!

What a night! A proud contingent of Merton GoodGymmers swapped their running shoes for their smartest trousers and skirts or dresses suitable for wearing under - whilst keeping their iconic red t-shirts front and centre, of course - to attend the glitzy Merton Civic Pride Awards.

As the awards ceremony continued post food, the suspense was building. When the Volunteer Team of the Year category came and went without our name being called, we collectively thought, "Ah well, we tried our best!" and prepared to just enjoy the rest of the evening cheering on other local heroes.

But Merton Connected had a brilliant surprise in store for us. As the the Health & Wellbeing Team of the Year category was announced... and GoodGym Merton scooped the Bronze Award!

We were absolutely over the moon. The award was presented to us by the Mayor of Merton, capping off an unforgettable evening. It is a fantastic recognition of all the miles run, the social visits made, and the community projects tackled to help boost the physical and mental wellbeing of residents across the borough.

Hopefully many more of the Merton residents have now heard of GoodGym in Merton which will only help us continue moving and thriving across the borough.

A massive congratulations to every single GoodGym volunteer - this award belongs to all of you. Keep shining, keep doing good, and let’s keep promoting wellbeing across Merton!

Ahead of the glitz and glamour of the Civic Pride Awards a few of the team donned their finest t-shirt to fly the flag (or new banner in this case) on our stand at the Merton Connected Volunteer Fair.

The room was buzzing, and we spent the hour chatting with local residents, sharing our favorite stories of shifting, sorting, and planting across the borough, and explaining how our unique mix of exercise and community action works. We met some potential new members as well as organisations looking for support - so a really worthwhile session.

A massive thank you to everyone who came along to man the stand, share their passion, and represent the group so brilliantly. The future of GoodGym Merton is looking bright!

Today two of the Taskforce team attended the Kingston & Merton EXPO25. It was a brilliant chance to get face-to-face with numerous businesses, organisations, and individuals to chat all things GoodGym in both Kingston and Merton. The energy was great, and we had so many positive conversations about how we Do Good and Get Fit.

It was great to see some familiar faces, but even better to meet a few people who had heard about us and some who had experienced the team helping with local jobs. Sharing first-hand stories about the difference our runners and volunteers have made reinforced the positive impact we have on the community. We are looking forward to doing more as there were lots of opportunities for follow up

We swapped our running shoes for a deep dive into a year's worth of GoodGym Merton video and photo evidence today. Sifting through hundreds of clips and images, it was a brilliant way to reminisce about everything we've achieved as a community of runners and do-gooders. From massive clean-up and painting sessions through numerous Parkruns to productive gardening efforts.

The resulting content will be used to mark our one-year anniversary date, and most importantly, encourage others to join our growing community.

Why not join us to mark 1 year of GoodGym Merton and you'll become part of the next great chapter?

Monday 27th - group session helping Friends of Raynes Park station: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/help-friends-of-raynes-park-station-with-various-jobs Followed by a social at Raynes Park Tavern (even if you can't make the task beforehand, please do join us - sign up so we have an idea of numbers to book the table/space): https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/october-goodgym-merton-social

Saturday 1st - Parkrun Morden: - Volunteer: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-merton-are-marking-1-year-by-helping-the-volunteer-team-at-morden-parkrun - Walk/run: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/join-goodgym-merton-on-a-walk-run-to-celebrate-our-1-year-anniversary-at-morden-parkrun - Join us for a coffee afterwards at Morden Leisure Centre.