Spring tree and shrub growth beside this rural cottage required the attention and strength of Muscles ‘mates’ during a scorching two part clearance that coincided with the final stages of the 2018 World Cup competition.
Special thanks from Adam and Katie to Bernie, Kevin, David, Ian, Alan T, Nick, Ed and Phil.
Meet the ‘Gang of 8’ (not including photographer Bernie Morgan) Muscles volunteers who descended on Tricia Higgins bungalow in Martlesham on Saturday 9th June. Working like a well oiled machine they quickly undertook the prepared list of tasks presented by the host – Tricia.
Supplied with tea/coffee and cake the team worked tirelessly to make sure the garden makeover was up to the teams high standards.
Bernie commented, ‘I am always impressed of how the team compliments each other’s abilities, consuming any and all tasks with such tenacity and guile !’
Tricia commented, ” Great to see everyone again and a MASSIVE THANK YOU for all your hard work, I have to keep going into the garden and looking how different it is! Once again, please pass on my thanks and best wishes to all the team”.
Bonus of the day – the team completed a recce for Tricia’s neighbour, Pat, and quickly assessed that the they could complete the job there and then (removal of a massive overgrown shrub and 3 inch thick ivy ).
Tricia generous donation add a new name to the growing list of charities and non profits benefiting from the teams work – Hillside Animal Research.
Tricia also donated a new ‘Alligator’ Black and Decker saw to the Muscles team. On behalf of the team, Bernie thanked Tricia for the saw which will now be used to benefit other recipients of Muscles work.
Saturday 12th May 2018 represented a landmark for Muscles for Charity.
Teams of volunteers working in three different countries contributed in excess of 230 hours of work resulting in our overall total reaching above 15,000 voluntary hours and completed projects topping 400 jobs. All this as we celebrate our 20th anniversary year.
Congratulations and appreciation to everyone involved on this historic day.
In Belgium an international team worked at the 12th century Tongerlo Monastery, (featured above) whilst a large UK team transformed a garden in Ipswich. As the Belgian and British teams completed their projects the sun was rising over the Pacific Northwest of the USA where volunteers replaced railroad ties in a driveway at Kirkland, WA.
In 2018, the Monastery is celebrating its 888 year anniversary. Joining the Belgian Muscles team were volunteers from the UK and USA. Together fifteen people tackled a series of projects inside the monastery’s extensive walled gardens under the guidance of Brother Gabriel, featured (below) with Barry and Suzanne from the USA, Ed from the UK and Belgian ‘Captain’ Johan.
The task of transforming areas of the monastery gardens involved the usual mix of fun, friendship and humour.
Brother Gabriel commented on the Muscles activity,
‘Muscles for charity did it again in Tongerlo Abbey: great work in the garden
with a smile and very helpfull last Saturday.
In name of the abbot and the whole community thank you very much for your work
and your friendship.
All the best greetings from Tongerlo,
fr. Gabriël
honorymember of Muscles for Charity
Additional information and photographs feature on the 2018 Muscles Belgium page – visit https://musclesforcharity.wordpress.com/belgium/belgium2018/
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In Ipswich, UK, the Muscles volunteers worked with representatives from Rotary to transform a rear garden area. (Two photos before the project started below)
117 hours of work were donated by the Muscles volunteers and five Rotary members. The client (via our Rotary friends) was Leone who is featured with her year old baby and mother.
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On the west coast of the USA a smaller team were busy removing ageing railroad ties in a driveway entrance and replaced them with concrete slabs. The before, during and after sequence is shown below.
Frank, Amy, Susan, Glenna and Bish’s Saturday morning work out resulted in a donation to a local pet shelter, Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, WA.
ar
Muscles for Charity volunteers have been involved in raising money and awareness for American Diabetes since 2004. The Tour de Cure is a series of fund-raising cycling events held in forty states nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association.
The ride can be challenging, but is not a race. Each location’s ride routes are designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. In the Pacific Northwest riders chose from routes covering 100, 63, 30 or 12 miles. This year Glenna, Amy, Frank and Bish chose to operate a Rest Stop in the beautiful Snohomish River Valley countryside of Washington State. (Photo features the scene at 5am)
Fun at the Rest Stop and complimentary refreshment for all volunteers at the conclusion of the event at Chateau St Michelle winery in Woodinville.
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In western Washington, Spokane hosted the annual Bloomsday ‘Run or Walk’ 12k event which attracted over 42,000 registered entrants, from international professional runners to families and children. 
The logo on the guys black t shirt in the photo (above) is ‘The End is Beer’
The charity event raises money and awareness for a number of local non-profit organizations. The ‘Muscles contingent’ was again led by Muscles and Bloomsday Veteran, Neal Skaufel who completed his 30th run since 1987. The photo features three generations of his family and Muscles members Steve and Amy Milliken.
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At the same time, 4,662 miles away, four Muscles members were taking part in the Kesgrave 5k Fun Run, proudly wearing their tee shirts from the 2017 ‘Brit Invasion of the Pacific Northwest’. True Story.
Congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in the events, combining the Muscles ethos of volunteering and supporting non profits.
A ferry ran for hundreds of years across the River Deben at Ramsholt near the east coast of Suffolk, within three miles of the North Sea. Overlooking the small jetty and quay, the present day Ramsholt Arms public house, (pictured above) was originally known as the Ferry House and a well known ‘Smugglers Den’.
Today the river has become an attraction for sailors and one of the major sailing centres on the east coast; the moorings support over 200 craft including retired skipper Richard Clarke’s, ‘Will Laude’, pictured below with Muscles ‘marine specialists’ Nick and Adam. 
Ably assisted by Colin Booker, the trio, starting at 8am (through to 3pm) cleaned the boat, (named after an infamous local 19th century smuggler) tied to the quay as the high water dropped.
Richard commented that their efforts had surpassed his expectations and congratulated them on completing in a single day a job that normally took two people three days!
Demonstrating his gratitude, Richard’s chosen non-profit was a donation to the Aldeburgh lifeboat.
Aldeburgh Lifeboat.
Following Steve and Beckies Muscles ‘Wedding of the Year’ on Easter Saturday in rural Suffolk attended by volunteers from the UK, Belgium and the USA, a team of twelve descended on Grange Farm, and settled into a familiar work pattern on 7th April, attracting traveling members from Cheshire and Leytonstone.
The mission – demolish and remove an existing garden shed and replace it with a new one. No problem. Combining the usual mix of humour, friendship and hard work, the job was completed in four hours.
More photo’s are featured on the UK Muscles 2018 page, (including the wedding) at https://musclesforcharity.wordpress.com/muscles-uk/uk-2018/ – and the person who made a ‘real difference’ ! plus Boz Junior, the visiting team member from Cheshire.
Message to the team from the delighted recipient, Trish Leggett,
“To just say “thank you ” to all these wonderful guys is simply not enough. They arrived in force on Saturday to dismantle my garden shed and after a quick coffee (or rather a strong tea for Bernie! ) off they went.
Their team work is amazing and together with their various areas of expertise , my old shed was gone and after some much needed refreshments, up went the new one !!!. I am THRILLED with it.
I feel so privileged to know this group of people and proud to be able to call them friends.
THANK YOU GUYS. I LOVE YOU ALL. Xx
The majority of Muscles for Charity projects involve teams working outside. Winter storms on both sides of the Atlantic prevented the respective teams from starting jobs. However, the Spring of 2018 provides exciting possibilities from Seattle to the Belgian countryside where the Abbey at Tongerlo celebrates its 888 year anniversary.
Brother Gabriel displays his prepared list of jobs and the Belgian team welcome any/all Muscles volunteers to join them at the Abbey during the weekend 12/13th May 2018.
In the Seattle area, volunteers are again involved in the Tour de Cure, whilst the UK team are preparing a large garden project, courtesy of Rotary International. 
The Muscles for Charity website is powered by WordPress and each year at this time they provide statistics for the previous twelve months.
Thanks to everyone who participated in another extraordinary year of fun, friendship and international co-operation.
2018 represents our twentieth anniversary. Happy New Year everyone.
As we approach another new year Muscles for Charity volunteers, celebrate the completion of 390 projects, involving over 14,800 voluntary hours, benefiting 131 registered charities or non-profits in 10 countries.
We never handle any money.
Our self-sustaining Tool Fund enables the UK team to replace existing tools, purchase bespoke tools for specialist jobs, provide funding for safety equipment and insurance cover for all UK members.
This is made possible by the significant organization and contributions of the Bentley family, – Nick, Deanne, George and Jodie – and fully appreciated by the team members, building on the wonderful foundation provided by ‘our Lady Sarah’.
2018 represents the twentieth anniversary of Muscles for Charity.
During the last two decades the team has grown from its Suffolk, UK roots to a multinational, award winning organization with a reputation for completing tasks to a high professional standard with humour, friendship and compassion for senior citizens.
Thanks to everyone involved.
Festive greetings from everyone at Muscles for Charity.
Muscles co-founder, Bernie Morgan’s quote (above) captures the essence of the team as fourteen volunteers tackle a garden clearing project in rural Suffolk for a military veteran. The sun shone as the team tackled the recipients ‘wish list’ (below). Photographs courtesy of co-founder Phil Boswell.
During 2017 the UK team, several of which feature above, contributed over 450 voluntary hours towards the overall total of 14,850 hours. Thanks everyone.
