Sunday 14th June
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Report written by George Ttoouli (he/him)
With near perfect weather for a 5km charity walk and community gathering, three Goodgymmers came together to help make Our North Finchley's event a success. Coming all the way over from Hatfield, Alice finally found a community session that fitted her timetable. And, amazingly despite his epic marathon trek the day before for the Thames Path Hike, Richard also rocked up, looking not too worse for wear and keen to help steward the route.
Joining about ten other volunteers from the community and led by our excellent local health and safety duo Andrew and Del (they'll be leading the team at East Finchley Festival next weekend). Some helped with even more litter picking and putting up gazebos earlier in the day, while the very talented Filip, who's been to a few Goodgym sessions, volunteered as a trained first aider to keep everyone safe.
We were also incredibly lucky to have an absolute legend from the local area, Bill O'Connor, who is one of the Ever Presents - these five legends have participated in every London Marathon since it launched in 1981, and Bill completed his 46th Marathon this year, running in the 80+ category. Having already run 8km that morning, it was incredibly generous of him to offer to lead the opening lap of the walk, and he even did an extra lap for fun. A fantastic role model, and one we hope will join Goodgym Barnet for a training session some time in the near future.
Meanwhile, the event ticked along in family fun spirit, young and old spreading out around the open space, walking, some running, some kicking balls around the route and some in prams or carried. Team Goodgym took up a couple of posts around the route with water bottles for those that needed them. Richard was stationed next to the monkey bars by the Porters Way path, and decided to try and get one hundred pull ups in while waiting for the walkers.
Then, wrapping up at 15:45, people collected their belongings, packed down tents, cleared up the area and left everything looking pristine. Proceeds raised from the event will be shared between Our North Finchley's community campaigning and four charities - Barnet Mencap, Rephael House, North Finchley Community Grocery and Goodgym!
Barnet
Making the forest school safer for learners
