Club for runners which incorporates community work comes to Brighton

Groups of GoodGym members run to local organisations or communities to help with physically demanding tasks, such as gardening or moving furniture, and then run back to their starting point.

Many runners are paired with isolated older people who they will run to see once a week for a social visit.

A spokesperson for GoodGym said: “We call the older people we visit our coaches because they help keep us motivated to run and they share their wisdom with us. It’s amazing what you can learn from your coach.”

Runners are paired up with elderly and isolated members of the community

The group have partnered with Clarion Housing, Brighton and Hove Impetus, Brighton Housing Trust, Hallmark Care Homes and the Southern Housing Group.

A statement from the organisations said: "Brighton is renowned for the vibrancy of its community and a place that is willing to push boundaries to make lives better for local people.

“As Brighton-based organisations that embody this spirit, we're proud to be working in partnership to get people across the city powering their communities through exercise and volunteering with GoodGym."

The group’s website has a good deeds counter and its runners have already completed over 55,000 good deeds across the UK.

Tara Shanahan, who will be leading GoodGym Brighton, said: “I think Brighton is the perfect place for GoodGym as there is already a strong community ethos here and it’s such a great place to run.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting lots of new runners and helping with the good work done by local community groups.”

Runners are required to complete background and referencing checks before beginning their mission runs.

One elderly cancer patient, known as Mr C, who had been referred to GoodGym for a garden clearance after he was no longer well enough to do the work himself, said: “Without the help of GoodGym I wouldn’t have the spring to look forward to.

“I really don’t think the volunteers that I had help me realised the impact that they have had on our lives. It is more than just clearing the garden, it is giving me hope.

Already active in 33 areas nationwide, the fitness group will launch in Brighton and Hove on Tuesday, July 11.