Get Fit By Doing Good with GoodGym

GoodGym is a community of people who get fit by doing good through running, walking and cycling to support local community organisations and isolated older people by doing practical tasks such as planting trees, cleaning community centres and sorting cans for a foodbank. There are 23,586 GoodGym's in the UK who have helped over 54,000 people with over 367,000 tasks.

GoodGym was established to address the issues of energy waste in traditional gyms and the rising loneliness in cities. The idea took shape when founder Ivo began running errands for a housebound resident, Terry, in 2007, leading to their friendship and Ivo's growing passion for running.

In 2009, GoodGym transitioned into a non-profit organisation and started group meet-ups for community projects by 2011. As it expanded into more cities, a strong sense of community emerged, resulting in its registration as a charity in 2015.

During the pandemic, GoodGym experienced a tenfold increase in requests from older individuals. They adapted their services to include prescription deliveries and food support while increasing participation among walkers and cyclists. Currently, Good Gym is focused on making their charity more engaging and accessible so that as many people as possible can benefit from their services.

"GoodGym combines doing good with running, which helps me forget I'm even exercising. It's great!" - Judy

"Running with GoodGym is great because I get fit, do good and get to hang with a load of awesome people" - Mark

"Before GoodGym I always lost motivation to stick at running or the gym but now I run two or three times a week" - Hazel

GoodGym offers a flexible volunteering opportunity that fits your lifestyle, making long-term commitment feasible. It's inclusive for everyone, regardless of your fitness level, and you can participate as often as you like to achieve your fitness goals. They organise social events to foster community connections, enhance motivation through group activities, and contribute to making your local area a better place to live. Participation is free, though donations are welcome. By engaging in GoodGym's initiatives, participants not only improve their own well-being but also provide connection and support to others - helping "get people all over the world off treadmills and into their communities".

Source & Image: GoodGym