GG TH were thrilled to be embarking on a new task tonight. Partnering with the dynamic Kelly from WHFS, co-ordinator of their Maternity Mates programme, our task was to empty the store cupboard of its bundles of baby-item donations, sort through the items and return to the store room.

(WHFS is a programme that supports pregnant women with the provision of relevant health services and advocacy, and are always on the lookout for volunteers. You can read more here.)

How it began

Just a small group met at our Hotel base this evening ready to run the 2km route to our task. The route and run were discussed and we were lucky enough to have Chris and Becky leading the run this evening.

By 7pm, a good-sized group had gathered at The Brady Centre, home to WHFS, and were already busy stuffing envelopes as a warm-up to tonight’s activity.

Kelly then gave us a brilliant briefing, as the last few runners arrived, and we made our way to stairwell and store cupboard to start the huge task of bringing down bag after bag of items.

No stopping us

The team blitzed the donations in no time, helped hugely by the vast space we were given to do this, and the fantastic organisation of the task.

After establishing the age range of an item of clothing, the team assigned it to its relevant pile. Baby grows, trackie bottoms, ballet skirts…No label went un-checked as the piles grew.

At just before 8, the bags were emptied, only to be refilled. We carefully folded items back into the bags, now sorted to perfection, loaded the lift and returned the clothes back to the storeroom, where they await packing into baby bags, before making their way to good homes.

How it ended

We posed for a final pic, and dispersed into teams for the remainder of the night:

• The ‘Sporty, Cycling Team’ heading off into the night on feet and wheels

• The Return Runners headed back to the hotel at a pace that meant business.

• The Pub Posse popped down the road, for one for the road.

And that was that.

Shout-outs

• To Kelly at WHFS, for a task we all absolutely loved (and it was brilliant to be joined by colleague, Karen, briefly, to say hello).

• To Darren, whose first GG TH outing this was - fantastic to see you, Darren, and do join again soon.

• To Chris and Becky, and the whole supportive Hotel Running Team, for leading the run there and back.

Next week, we’re out and about in the Mile End Park area. Info and sign-up can be found here.

Until then.