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.

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)

Welcome to Uzondu for his first GoodGym Manchester outing this evening! 👏

Today we were tasked with brushing and scraping down the metal fence and gate at Ladybarn Community Hub. Charly, Uzondu, and Ben walked or ran to help them out.

With metal brushes, cloth, and wearing eye protection (safety first), we made steady work with Dr Coull, one of the trustees, to remove the top layer and flaking paint from the fence. Charly made the first step in getting paint onto the fence, a fetching black colour, closely followed by the others 🎨🖌

With people each side, and others filling in as we went, the fence was quickly covered in a fresh black shine, managing to completely cover the fence and gate, leaving out the musical note 🎵 on the gate.

Once a hastily written Wet Paint sign had been attached, we cleared up a bit, washed hands, and made our way home.

Really active local community group with lots of sessions and initiatives for local people, and a well kept garden and pond. We hope to be back again, perhaps to paint more of the fence or with other tasks.