Five of GoodGym Barnsley's finest runners came together to complete a community mission in a new area of town!

For this month's mission, we headed off to New Lodge community centre to help the volunteers there tidy up the outside space. Dawn was ready to meet us all as the runners assembled from different directions, with Sorcha running the 2.5km from Staincross, James the 4km from the station and me coming 2.5km from Honeywell. As always with community missions, there was no organised group run, but it was nice to see some runners keen to make it there on foot!

As there was youth club on at the same time as our mission, Dawn introduced us and asked the kids if anyone would like to help. With everyone wanting to be part of the fun, we headed outside to see what needed doing! There were three large picnic benches that needed completely destroying as they had become unsafe for the children to sit on. Armed with crowbars, spanners and hammers, we set to work on the fun task of tearing them apart! A lot of upper body strength was needed to rip off each piece of wood so it was definitely a good workout! The youth group were on hand to move the pieces of wood into a pile ready for bonfire night! Mighty Mairead looks to be enjoying using the crowbar to peel the pieces of wood away, see pics! Sorcha got stuck in too, moving back and forth with planks of wood to and from the pile! Once James was released from the Stocks for being late! He joined team tables too!

Whilst most of us were busy with the tables, Sharon took on the more relaxing task of weeding the flower beds with the help of some of the girls, filling a huge sack full! Dawn also handed out litter pickers and got the kids involved with doing good too!

We finished up the task in good time, just as it was getting pretty dark. Left with space where the tables had been and a huge wood pile ready for bonfire night, we swept up and said our goodbyes! Dawn was extremely grateful for all of our help and even offered us free food from the foodbank before we left!

We absolutely smashed this task team, it took huge effort, arm strength and patience!! Well done all!