Dreaming of an Off-white Christmas

10 runners ran 8k to paint a Youth Centre

On a cold, wet and blustery evening 10 hardy souls shunned other Christmas commitments and headed to Somers Town Community Centre to run and help out a community project in Camden.

Great Youth Group in Swiss Cottage

We were heading to The Winch- an inspiring Youth Group in Swiss Cottage. They work with children and young people between 4- 25 years old, offering a number of play schemes and an interesting Enterprise programme helping local children create livelihoods doing something they love. They needed some help sprucing up the main hall upstairs. It's used as the centre's main source of income but is looking a bit shabby. With all their other commitments they just can't find time to do it themselves.

Hill Climb

We ran 4k to get there- including a dash up killer Primrose Hill. The view over London at the top just about made up for the pain of running up there. We were greeted at the centre by Tasia, who took us on a quick tour - showed us the kind of work they have been up to. Up in the hall she had arranged a loads of rollers, brushes and paint ready for us to crack on with the task.

CREAM...or maybe Off-white

We got to work- sanding down any areas where the plaster was rough and sploshing cream paint over the smooth surfaces. We worked pretty flat out but the hall was huge, so after 40mins we downed tools and headed for the door- making a firm commitment to Tasia that we would be back in January to finish the job.

Inclement Conditions

While we were indoors the weather had taken a turn for the worst- it was wetting it down as we left the centre. We shouldered on- drenched but determined to make it home before 8.30pm. We dashed back- sliding round corners (sorry Sophie) and hiding our faces from the rain that lashed against us. We made it back, cold but proud of our efforts- nice one everyone!