GoodGym Richmond celebrates 10 years of keeping fit by doing good

GoodGym Richmond marked a major milestone last weekend as volunteers, partners, supporters and friends came together to celebrate ten years of community-powered fitness in the borough.

The anniversary fell on the exact date of the group’s very first session in July 2016, when more than 40 runners set off from Whole Foods to tackle Himalayan balsam during a summer heatwave. A decade later, the plant, and the spirit of GoodGym, remain as resilient as ever!

In the ten years since that first run, 623 people have taken part in GoodGym Richmond, completing 7,911 community tasks for charities, schools, care homes, green spaces and neighbourhood organisations. Members who track their runs have collectively covered over 82,000 kilometres, the equivalent of circling the globe twice.

GoodGym’s mission has always been simple: combine physical activity with acts of community service. For many, it has become much more: a way to meet people, settle into a new area, improve wellbeing, and find purpose through helping others.

The anniversary event offered a moment to thank the partners who have supported GoodGym Richmond’s journey. Richmond Council’s original funding helped launch the group in 2016, and continued support from Richmond Foundation, Heathrow Community Trust and the Council’s Climate Action Group has enabled GoodGym to equip its community base. The celebration was sponsored by Alpha Vets in Teddington.

The Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Cllr Nancy Baldwin, joined the festivities and spoke warmly about the group’s impact, reflecting on presenting GoodGym Richmond with a Community Heroes Award in 2022. She praised the dedication of volunteers and the significance of a community organisation thriving for a full decade.

As the group looks ahead, the message was clear: GoodGym Richmond is built on the efforts of every volunteer, whether they’ve completed one task or hundreds. Together, they’ve created a welcoming, energetic and community minded network that continues to make Richmond a better place.

Here’s to the first ten years, and to many more of keeping fit by doing good.

Learn more about Richmond GoodGym and get involved.