BT's Solihull workers - and running enthusiasts - make it a clean sweep with Jonnie Peacock

Who said keeping fit was rubbish?

Solihull BT workers Jon Remeika and John Coffey don’t think so!

They swapped their laptops for brooms to turn their passion for running to good use - with help from gold medal Paralympian Jonnie Peacock.

The pair took part in the first of a series of events designed to combine keeping fit with putting something back into the local community.

The event marked the start of a partnership between BT and running community GoodGym, whose supporters combine getting fit with doing good around the UK.

John and Jon were part of 40-strong group of BT employees and volunteers who took part in a three kilometre run from BT’s city centre offices in Birmingham, to a community playground adjacent to Nelson Mandela Primary School, in Balsall Heath.

There they met sprinting legend Jonnie Peacock who led them in an hour’s sweeping, tidying, gardening and litter picking to make the area spick and span for the local children, before running back to the start.

The aim of the task was to achieve what would have been the equivalent of five days’ work for one person.

Jon, who lives in Solihull, said: “I really enjoyed it along with the work helping the local community. It was good to meet new people with similar interests.

“Jonnie Peacock has achieved great things already in sport so hearing his positive words was inspiring to all of us. I would recommend these events for anybody who wants to keep fit, meet new people and help their local community.”

Jon Coffey, from Hall Green, said: “This is the first time I have done something that not only benefits myself physically and mentally but also helps to benefit others. I enjoyed it so much I’ve already signed up for future events with GoodGym.”

From this week onwards, GoodGym will run every week in Birmingham and the runs are open to all, in partnership with Run Birmingham who are working to make Birmingham a centre of running and fitness.

GoodGym has joined forces with BT to enable them to reach even more communities over the next year, including a further 15 cities.

Details of all the events are available at: www.goodgym.org

Jonnie Peacock MBE, a BT Ambassador, said: “BT has a long history of supporting volunteering and is committed to using the power of sport to change people’s lives. GoodGym combines both. It’s a great way to get fit, meet new people and do some good. I enjoyed joining in and doing my bit.”

Ivo Gormley, founder of GoodGym said: “With the support of BT I hope we develop a strong culture of community exercise that helps get new people into running and makes a big difference to community organisations across the country.”

Abdullah Rehman MBE, chief executive and former neighbourhood warden of the Balsall Heath Forum, said: “We’re always looking for new and interesting ways to support our work in the community, and this Goodgym initiative with BT was the perfect way to do this.”

Issued by the BT regional press office. For more information please contact Emma Tennant on 0800 085 0660 or email: emma.tennant@bt.com Twitter: @EmmaTennantBT

All BT news releases can be read at www.bt.com/newscentre

About BT

BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed-mobile products and services.BT consists of six customer-facing lines of business: Consumer, EE, Business and Public Sector, Global Services, Wholesale and Ventures, and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2016, BT Group’s reported revenue was £19,042m with reported profit before taxation of £3,029m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For more information, visit www.btplc.com

About GoodGym

GoodGym is a growing community of runners who combine their exercise with helping their

communities. Founded in 2009, its members stop off on their runs to do manual labour for

community organisations and to support isolated older people. GoodGym is expanding rapidly from its roots in Tower Hamlets to other boroughs and cities and is currently active in 26 boroughs and cities. It aims to launch in every city in the UK by 2018. GoodGym is a non-profit company and is registered with the Charity Commission.

GoodGym is free to participate in and welcomes all levels of runners.