7.00 pm on an April evening and eight goodgymers gathered in Poole Park to help with marshalling the Dorset Neon 5k run. The event was organised by Diverse Abilities, a local charity which supports children and adults with profound physical and learning disabilities across the county. The atmosphere was great with live music and lots of shiny happy people. Jane and Patricia had marshalled last year and were the ones with the inside knowledge. They thankfully reminded everyone to bring head torches and warm clothes along with the tutus and the glow sticks. Evening sunshine didn’t last long and by the end Poole Park, especially by the lake was very dark and very chilly. Nicola and Becky joined by friends from Oakdale Runners marshalled near the start cheering the 200 runners on their way with lots of encouragement and glowing batons. By the cricket pitch Christine kept the runners on the straight and narrow preventing them heading off round the normal parkrun route. It was a wonderful sight seeing a couple of hundred head lights bobbing along as the runners circled the park. There was no way anyone was going to get lost Shelley glowed brighter than any Christmas tree as she waved the runners through and Esther was reminiscent of a 70’s hippy positively glowing from head to toe. Elizabeth found her vocation signalling the runners as they took a sharp bend and now thinks she’s qualified to guide a jumbo jet down to land. The runners continued round the lake and the goodgymers all gathered to encourage them to the finish line. A fun evening for a great local cause – Oh what a night!

A bit from Trisha: Brilliant, lots of people had great fun all in their brightly coloured lights and clothes. It was a lovely evening!