GoodGym is an amazing initiative (and registered charity) which combines running and fitness with community volunteering.
We lift things that need to be lifted instead of lifting weights at the gym and we run to where help is needed instead of running without a purpose. GoodGym has a group run once per week in York where runners go to a local charity or community project to complete a physical task; it could be digging trenches for a land drainage system in a community garden or sorting donations for a charity.
Runners also have the option to run ‘missions’, these are one-off tasks to help people aged 60+ with things they would struggle to do themselves. In York, mission runners have completed tasks such as clearing patios from weeds, putting up curtains or even helping with Christmas decorations. Tasks can be anything from changing a light bulb up to full garden clearances. Some runners also opt to be a ‘coach runner’, this is GoodGym’s befriending scheme and sees the runner visit an older, isolated person once a week as part of their run.
GoodGym sessions are free to attend and very friendly with socialising and keeping fit as the main aims. If you can jog for 15 minutes then you’ll be fit enough to join in and if you have any concerns about your fitness, you can join in with monthly Starter Sessions which are for all abilities.
You can find out all about GoodGym here: https://www.goodgym.org/areas/york or you can contact the group’s trainer on egg@goodgym.org
