This morning, Deputy Mayor Matthew Ryder launched Team London and GoodGym’s 'Run to Do Good 2017’. The event saw 161 business volunteers run to a wide range of local speed volunteering opportunities.
Charities supported included The Royal British Legion, where 45 runners assembled poppy appeal boxes, and Aldgate Play and Heritage Project, where 25 runners helped turn a disused car park into a community arts centre.
Staff from a number of large employers including Twitter, Citi and Google took part in the run, which helped to celebrate Volunteers’ Week 2017.
Initiatives like this show how volunteering makes a real difference in our great city and helps to build stronger communities. It enables people to get to know and help their neighbours. Most of all, it makes us a friendlier and more welcoming place to live in and visit. I would urge anyone who would like to help out in their community to take a look at all the opportunities Team London and charities like GoodGym offer. Volunteering is a rich, rewarding experience and I’m proud to see so many Londoners giving up their time during National Volunteers’ Week. Matthew Ryder, Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement.
GoodGym, a community of runners who use their workouts for social good, partnered with Team London, to host their biggest ever run. The runners volunteered for a total of 135 hours in just 90 minutes.
It is incredible that so many people have taken time out of their busy day to support this initiative. It goes to show what can be done in such a short space of time. The impact of this event will be huge to charities that often struggle to get this level of support. Ivo Gormley, GoodGym
GoodGym's runs are a great way for Londoners to become more active citizens by giving up some of their time to help those who are feeling lonely, meet others and have fun as part of a group. And, of course, doing all that while keeping fit.