After running a half-marathon and earning yet another medal from the Big Half, Steph caught up with running friends and beat the tube strike to make it to Blondin Park. He was about to meet Sevan and Kash at the GoodGym stall at Brentford Festival and inspire more locals to do good while getting fit.

The last shift of our volunteer-fishing campaign at the festival saw an increase in children’s interest in our game with prizes, which we’ve been turning into an opportunity to talk to parents about flexible volunteering.

The closer to 6 pm, the more gazebos were seen taken down - including a six-legged one we had erected with five GoodGymers, which was kindly dismantled by eight police officers. We lent a hand in taking down a neighbouring gazebo that we had also put up in the morning. The community group we had helped saved us by lending us scissors, without which we wouldn’t have been able to strip down our own stall.

Grateful for the opportunity to showcase GoodGym at the festival, we stayed a bit longer to dismantle the Brentford Festival flags, that sadly won’t be used next year. It was time to say goodbye to a great community event that had been around for 20 years. While we will miss helping out at the festival prep, we are hoping to team up with the fantastic event manager, Linda, again, to support the Blondin Park Consortium in improving the lovely green space between Northflieds and Brentford.

London's community half marathon went red this year! 🔥

A huge congratulations to the oodles of GoodGym folk who caught well-earned happy mornings under a hot-hot-hot late summer sun ☺️

It was the biggest joy seeing you all!

Please send me your photos (!) and I will pop them up here (alexmurtough@goodgym.org) ❤️