GoodGym Richmond marks ten years of running for a good cause

There's something quietly remarkable about a group that has kept going for a decade entirely on the power of goodwill and trainers. GoodGym Richmond celebrated its tenth anniversary last weekend, gathering volunteers, partners and friends to mark the milestone at the spot where it all began.

The group's very first session took place in July 2016, when more than 40 runners set off from Whole Foods to clear Himalayan balsam from a local green space during a summer heatwave. In the years since, 623 people have taken part across the borough, completing 7,911 community tasks for charities, schools, care homes and green spaces. Members who log their runs have together covered more than 82,000 kilometres — roughly twice around the Earth.

The model is simple and effective: combine a run or walk with a practical act of community service, whether that's gardening for an elderly resident, helping a local charity shift furniture, or clearing invasive plants. Many members say it has become as much about connection and belonging as fitness.

For Barnes residents who haven't come across GoodGym before, it's free to join a community mission. Full details at the Richmond Council feature.