2022 GoodGym award winner announced

The winner of the 2022 Sean Coxhead Inspiring Individual award is Sheila Attenborough from GoodGym Windsor and Maidenhead.

The Inspiring Individual award is given annually, and recoginises one GoodGymer who has shown remarkable dedication, kindness or effort. The award is in celebration of Sean Coxhead, a GoodGymer in York who sadly passed away following a diagnosis of bladder cancer. Sean inspired all of us with his outstanding courage, determination and commitment to GoodGym and his community. You can read all about the award and what it means to us at GoodGym in this story.

Nominations are made by the GoodGym community, from the people out doing good deeds every week. This year, the final decision was made by three amazing people heavily involved in the GoodGym mission: Beth Hoskins, Clinical Scientist and GoodGym record holder being the first person to reach 500 and then 1000 good deeds; Shannon Gleave, Giving Manager at Octopus Giving, a charity partner of GoodGym; and Tamara Green, Global Brand Director at Havas media and GoodGym Trustee.

Sheila was chosen because of her outstanding contribution to their GoodGym community and beyond, with the award judged on four criteria:

• Impact: how great their impact has been
• Dedication: the dedication they have demonstrated and how they've gone above and beyond expectations as a GoodGym community member
• Overcoming adversity: their ability to show resilience and strength whilst supporting others
• Kindness: how they've demonstrated kindness and extra effort
  

Tamara said: "Her nomination is so thoughtful and inspiring. Her dedication is admirable. In addition to her GoodGym commitment, I love that she seems to live her life in service of others, a real patron of her community"

Her nomination is so thoughtful and inspiring. Her dedication is admirable.

Sheila's first GoodGym session was in May 2021, where she supported the local baby bank. In just 18 months she is fast approaching 250 good deeds, with a combination of group sessions and missions. Georgeta, who nominated Sheila, speaks of her endless enthusiasm for GoodGym and supporting her community, including when injury stopped her from running. She said "Sheila initially joined group runs. However, due to a foot injury, she had to give up running, for a while anyway. That hasn't stopped her, she has settled for walking or cycling. She has been cycling everywhere, no matter the weather, covering long distances, including to missions to the neighbouring GoodGym group in Slough."

Shannon said: "I was completed moved by her nomination. It seems on a weekly basis that she is consistently going over and above what a normal participation in GoodGym looks like and that she is a vital part of the Windsor and Maidenhead group"

Not content with just participating in sessions, Sheila has also become a TaskForce member and regularly lists and leads her own sessions. Sheila has now led over 100 community missions, massively expanding the reach and impact of the Windsor and Maidenhead group.

Beth said "The nomination makes her sound like an amazing person who definitely embodies what Goodgym is about. I particularly liked the fact that she has been doing a range of all kinds of Goodgym activities and it sounds like her hard work can be seen all across Windsor and Maidenhead."

Upon hearing that she had won the award, Sheila said "I feel very honoured to have been nominated. The group is just amazing and everyone is so supportive. I get a lot out of being in GoodGym and get a lot of personal satisfaction. We have a lot of fun together. You know it's going to be good fun, even if it is tipping down with rain or cold, we always have a laugh. It brings people together. you don't have to make an effort, you know people are there and they will be your friends"

You know it's going to be good fun, even if it is tipping down with rain or cold, we always have a laugh. It brings people together.

Go and give Sheila a cheer here

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