Long day volunteering at the Manchester Half for Hannah, Gaynor, Uzondu, Hazel, and Ben.

It was early start and after arriving, we individually signed in, picked up our hi vis and lunch, and made our way to the start line to help out where we could.

Hazel got a box seat for the start, while Gaynor and Hannah were on duty to collect discarded jumpers and coats, some quite expensive by the sounds of it, to be donated to Cancer Research UK shops. There were so many bags! Several vans-worth. Uzondu and Ben, meanwhile, were in the "toilet run" ensuring people queued off the road, enabling the waves to congregate and pass through without issue. All of us seemed to be on hand to signpost where runners should go in addition to answering questions from spectators.

Come 11am, once the runners had gone and the sacks of clothes moved, we merged to board the Broom Wagon! With another group, we were to tail at the back, encouraging runners who were struggling near the back. With only a few runners struggling close to the cut off time until about mile 10 it was quite smooth, with some of us jumping out to walk/run alongside while encouraging the participants onwards. We were a little bit taken aback by the volume of plastic bottles and gel packets on the floor visible from the bus, and no surprise the council had their large roadsweepers out in force.

I think for the last section of the race, we were all out jogging or walking, helping where we could so participants could reach the goal of the finish line. It was really heartening to see them reach the line in what was often an emotional point for them.

Certainly earned the free packed lunch after that day.

Went along to Trafford for another mission for Mrs L to clear a lot of ivy, overhanging branches, lots of moss, and clearing a bed 🌿🌱

With nifty secateurs, a sturdy broom, and a humble hoe, I made a serious dent in the ivy growth around the front gate and removed a lot of the overhanging branches that might encroach on passers-by or neighbours.

The moss came up quite easily but by that point, the garden waste bin was full to the brim so this was scattered on the cleared bed to break down.

Tough task after a busy morning. Will likely be asked back for a bigger tree to trim that will certainly need 2 GoodGymers next time 🌳

Ben made the mad dash from Sackville Gardensto Withington Methodist Church to join Withington Civic Society with their bimonthly litter pick.

After signing in and collecting my bags and trusty litter grabber, I set to work picking up all sorts of bottles, takeaway waste, clothing, tins, coffee cups, and even a toothbrush 🪥

In all, we collected over 20 sacks of waste to be collected through Keep Manchester Tidy and plenty of camaraderie to go round.

Even better was the cake and cup of tea in the church afterwards where we chatted, swapped contact details, and there will likely be more tasks coming up in Withington soon...

Welcome to Fanette for her first GoodGym Manchester outing! Well done to Uzondu for getting out in the GoodGym red for the first time.

Friends of Sackville Gardens have regular volunteer session on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 10-12, to keep on top of litter, weeding, planting, and other green maintenance. Today we joined in with a group to add to their regular volunteers to help clear leaves 🍃 from the beds and forming a nice heap in one location for it to break down. With traffic pollution and particulates being taken up, they didn't want it getting into the beds to cycle round.

Fanette provided ample support picking up leaves to be wheel barrowed to the drop off, while it looks like Uzondu had a duty of scooping up the large piles.

Busy morning and sorry I had to run for another GoodGym session. Ideally I would have stayed.

(NB There is a wonderful bench statue in the park of Alan Turing)

Peter and Ben went along to GRIT Studios in Salford to help prepare a wall for a new masterpiece to be painted on Sunday 🎨

With buckets of soapy 🧼 water and sponges 🧽 we gave the wall a thorough clean, using steps and a longer broom to reach the higher spots. After throwing cold water to remove any suds and scrubbing the grimy floor, we checked out and ran back to Manchester.

Look forward to seeing the art work! We'll be back preparing an old toilet block for a mural before too long.

Five GoodGym Stockport volunteers spent the evening delivering leaflets around Cheadle to help promote upcoming events run by the Together Trust charity.

The team worked efficiently to make sure as many local residents as possible heard about the great work the charity does.

It was lovely to welcome Meera back after a few months away and to introduce our newest and youngest recruit — 11-month-old Olive — who charmed everyone she met!

With cheerful chats, a bit of light exercise, and lots of community spirit, it was another feel-good evening of doing good together.