So tonight…we met, we ran, we weeded, we snipped, we raked, we chatted, we cleared an entire allotment so it can now be rented out to somebody, we ran again, we did a fitness session, we went to the pub and WE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

It’s hard to know exactly what difference tonight’s task will make. I imagine the future allotment holder of the space we cleared, all the experiences they will have in that space, the friends they will make, the food they will grow, the knowledge they will acquire and share, the difference it will make to their health and wellbeing. Tonight we didn’t change the world but we will change somebody’s world, for the better, for the good.

And that’s what Goodgym does, it makes lots of little differences. The coached runners who take time out of their week to visit somebody elderly and isolated and make a huge difference to that person’s day and their sense of connection to the world. The Missions where the smallest, easiest of tasks for us can really impact the practicalities of somebody’s life and let that person know that there are people that care and are willing to help. And there are very few parts of our city that I can visit and not have a memory of how our group runs and community missions have made a difference to tidying, improving and caring for our little corner of the world and the people who live here.

Congratulations go to Katharine who tonight made a difference for the 100th time, joining several others present tonight in the 100 club.

We make lots of little differences to other people and places and of course also to ourselves. We support and encourage each other to keep active and to stay healthy. We’ve discovered training partners (and romantic partners) and friends amongst each other and I honestly believe there is no gym that can claim to be more welcoming and less intimidating than Goodgym. We are a community of lovely people who believe in the power of Good, that caring and taking action is worthwhile and really does MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

On a personal note Goodgym has made a huge difference to my life. I’m not a person who naturally steps into a leadership role but Goodgym has taught me that I can be a leader and has increased my self confidence. Goodgym has shown me a side of my city that I was entirely unaware of for the first 19 years I lived here. Now I know about all the great, caring people that are involved in so many community projects, like The Bevy, Brighton Table Tennis Club, Real Junk Food Project and so many more. I think most of all Goodgym reminds me that even in a world that can sometimes seem like its gone a bit mad and bad, that good people exist and I believe will prevail. As I said in my very brief farewell speech tonight ‘thank you all for being the antidote to all the sh** in the world!!’

Thank you so much to Helena who is leading group runs for the next few weeks. There are many more task owners who I know would welcome a visit in late June and July so if any of you want to do Task Force training to lead Community Missions, especially until the new Area Activator is recruited then please know that I am happy to help to facilitate this and don’t hesitate to get in touch.

I wish whoever takes Brighton Goodgym into the next phase all the best and I am excited to see where it goes and also to be a part of that journey. It really is just Ta-ra for now, see you all back out there soon xxxx