"Look mummy, there's an elf!", came the cry from a child as we were out and about putting leaflets through letterboxes to promote Mind in Bexley's Mental Elf festive run.

it's not every day you see elves on a sunny October morning, but it was all for a good cause and it brought smiles to the faces of passersby. Although I bet there were some confused householders when they saw us on their video doorbells!

Our determined pace gave us a good step count and being active and outdoors is known to be beneficial for mental health, so this task for Mind in Bexley was a great match for GoodGym.

We have lots more tasks coming up - fancy dress is always optional! - so check out what else is on offer and come and have some fun with us.

On Saturday, our GoodGym team rolled up their sleeves and joined Jason – the wonderful gardener at Community Hospice – for a mission that was all about soil, sweat, and smiles.

The job? Clear out the flower beds in the Sensory Garden, sieve all the soil, and then put it back in. Sounds straightforward? Well, it was a proper workout! Buckets were filled, sieves were shaken, and the odd stone or stubborn root put up a fight.

By the end, the beds were ready for a fresh start. Jason and his gardening team can now plant a whole array of new, beautiful plants to brighten up the garden. It’s more than just flowers – it’s colour, life, and cheer for the hospice patients and their families who enjoy that space every day.

We left a little muddier, a lot sweatier, but very proud. Sometimes the best way to spread joy is to get your hands dirty.

Last night our wonderful GoodGymers worked wonders at Wonder Zone Nursery!

It was also Sophie's first ever GG task, and Martin's 100th good deed so there was lots to celebrate.

Running, walking and cycling to the nursery, nine of us were met by Olu, one of the trustees, and he explained the task: tidy up the driveway leading to the nursery and the children's outdoor play area.

There was plenty to do:

• Sweep up sand that had overspilled from children playing in the sandpit.
• Hoover the astroturf areas.
• Remove the painted yellow bay divider lines and a disabled bay symbol from the yard's former life as a car park.
• Clear weeds and leaves from the driveway.

And that's just what we did!

In just an hour the difference was clear to see - all neat and tidy, ready for the children to enjoy!

Afterwards there was flapjack to mark Martin's brilliant GG100 milestone, and we headed to the local Weatherspoons to continue the fun over some food and drinks.

Today was National Fitness Day! We certainly contributed to it by walking/running to the task tonight! Our job was to clean the mini bus inside and out! We all got on with the job helped by two of the residents , David and Ken who were a delight! Team member Amy got us all we needed to make the bus sparkling clean! We can't wait for our next visit!

This Sunday, Peter and Cecilia from GoodGym joined the energetic crew of Eltham Junior Parkrun volunteers to support a fantastic field of 86 mini-milers taking on their weekly 2k challenge.

The weather may have been a bit on the brrr-isk side, but the sun was shining and spirits were high – a perfect combo for cheering, clapping, and chasing away any sleepy Sunday blues.

Peter took up his post as a marshal with moxie, while Cecilia brought up the rear as a top-notch tailwalker, ensuring no young runner was left behind – because at Junior Parkrun, everyone’s a front-runner in their own story.

We saw kids of all speeds and sizes giving it a go – some zipped round the two laps like lightning bolts, while others decided to park it after one. And that’s totally fine – every journey starts with a single (little) step.

What really warmed our GoodGym hearts was the family spirit – so many parents were running, walking, and cheering alongside their kids. It’s true what they say: the family that runs together, puns together (okay, made that one up, lol).

It was our pleasure to help out in our own small way, and we’re already looking forward to the next one. Until then – keep running, keep smiling, and never forget to lap up the fun! Cecilia 🍀

In this evening's blue-sky sunshine our GoodGymers gathered in Welling, ready to bring a bit of nature and brightness to the streets.

The plan? A two-part mission with Discover Welling: first, to plant heather, hebes and other plants in the raised flower beds adjacent to the car park, and then to line the approach to Welling Station with cheery flowers.

🌿 We kicked off in the car park, where the raised beds were in need of some TLC. Armed with trowels and teamwork, we got stuck in, digging, planting, and patting down soil around the new plants. We picked out accumulated rubbish and weeds, and dug out the thistles. A sweep-up around area finished the job.

🌼 We walked around the corner to the approach leading up to Welling Station. In no time, pansies and violas were creating a splash of colour for all the commuters and passers-by.

🍏 As we wrapped up, we couldn’t help noticing apples on a nearby tree. A little bit of scrumping added a sweet note to the evening.

🦗 Then a grasshopper hopped over to inspect our work — perhaps the ultimate seal of approval from Mother Nature herself.

It was lovely to have Dulisha with us for her first GoodGym task. We hope you enjoyed the session, Dulisha, and look forward to seeing you again! And it was nice to have Adele from Discover Welling with us too.