Volunteering for GoodGym

Ask anyone I went to Uni with, if I wasn’t in a lecture (hahaha), my bed (more likely) or the Union (even more likely), I was to be found in the gym on a treadmill. I used to love running; from previously having been someone who would have only run if there was guaranteed food or a beer at the end of it, I enjoyed the fact I was able to run for more than 20 seconds without wanting to rip my own legs off just so I had something to throw at passers-by. I loved running so much that I did it to the point where I hated it even more so than my 14 stone-self had ever done. The mere mention of cardio broke me into a sweat, and if anyone ever suggested going for a run together I swiftly removed them from my friendship circle because clearly, they were keen to watch me suffer. Fast forward about a year, I would be signing up to a charity that not only encouraged running but based its entire premise around the activity I’d learnt to loathe.

I've been looking to volunteer with the elderly for a while now and for some reason, it's been frustratingly difficult to get involved with. From a string of 'thanks for your interest, but we're OK for now' emails, I began to get discouraged that my willingness to do a good thing was being met head-on with rejections. By chance, I stumbled across GoodGym: a concept combining keeping fit with care in the community, working in areas all across the UK, from Barnet to York. Individuals are encouraged to meet at a designated place to do a 'group run' once a week, which combines running with completing physical tasks for community organisations. If building a one-to-one relationship with a person in need is more your thing, taking 20 minutes out of your week to complete a 'coach run' is an opportunity to visit an older person and recuperate with a nice cup of tea and a custard cream. Then there are 'mission runs': running to an older person's home and helping them with something they are struggling to do themselves such as gardening or shopping. I thought the concept was genius, and it was the foot up the derriere I needed to rekindle my lost love of running.

The signing up process couldn't have been easier and my closest 'meeting point' happened to be in Brixton, just 10 minutes from my house. 5 days after registering my interest, I received an unexpected parcel in the post containing a GoodGym t-shirt and welcome pack, explaining the logistics of starting my contribution to the charity. I was chuffed to bits, despite my t-shirt fitting worse than Ross' 'Frankie Says Relax' number (please size up and save yourself the cardio workout it took me to get in mine). In order to complete 'coach runs', you're required to provide adequate documentation to prove your legitimacy and complete a DBS check for legal purposes. Other than that, you're pretty much able to start running with the group right away.

With over 1 million people aged 65 and over admitting to always or often feeling lonely, and 17% of those living alone see family and friends less than once a week, GoodGym saw a way to harness the energy of those slogging away on the treadmill and channel it into frequent low impact activities that make a huge difference to the life of someone in need. While each run might only seem like it's having a small impact, the increasing numbers and support for the charity will soon help the volunteers reach more of the elderly with every person who signs up.

If nothing less, getting a little bit of fresh air a couple of times a week rather than heading straight to my local for post-work drinks can only be a good thing for my body and my bank balance, so I'm all in. My first mission is on Tuesday, and while I'm nervous about the proposed 90 minutes you run together, I'm hedging my bets there will be another secret fatty to help me bring up the rear of the pack - either that or I'll grab an Uber.

https://www.goodgym.org/