With a little help from my friends, . . . . .

. . . . .  who arrived from the UK, eastern and western Washington State, British Columbia and Ontario, Canada, to help clear a Kent, WA garden and establish a fence at the rear of the property.

Meet the international garden make over team

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Meet the WA fencing project team

Initial marking and final oversight by Gene, with Muscles contributions by Frank, Chris, Bill, Jessa, Glenna, Garrett, Titus, Suzanne and Bish.

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“I cannot believe how hard everyone worked on my garden and I will never forget, and will always be grateful to the Muscles team”  Suzanne

 

 

UK Muscles volunteers complete 5k and 10k challenges in the Pacific Northwest of the USA and finish 1, 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

‘Victory Outreach International” host an annual event raising money and awareness on behalf of a non profit outreach.  As part of a world wide ‘Walk and Run-a-Thon’, the 2017 Pacific Northwest event,  featuring 5k and 10 k challenges was held at North SeaTac Park near Seattle and attracted competitors from across the area and four volunteers from the UK Muscles for Charity team.

10k challenge ‘Veteran’, Colleen triumphed in the Women’s race, with Big Bernie placed third in the Men’s race and Big Kev coming fourth (in his first competitive race after practising  running round his lounge in Ipswich). Frances finished second in the Women’s 5k race.

Congratulations to the traveling quartet.

 

“Beyond being pleased with help from an amazing ‘Muscles Team’ who made a brilliant improvement”

Meet the twenty three Muscles for Charity volunteers, from the UK and Belgian teams, who transformed the garage, garden and a selection of interior rooms at Grange Farm, Suffolk on Saturday 29th July 2017

The home owner, Margaret, (featured below discussing progress with co-founder Bernie Morgan and Richard Crabtree) was delighted with the results. The following three charities benefitted from the teams work – British Heart Foundation, Potts UK and Ehlers danlos support UK.

Photos courtesy of Phil Boswell

Teenage Muscles team member volunteers in rural Africa

 

Suffolk based teenager, and Muscles for Charity volunteer, George Bentley recently returned from a school based expedition in south east Zambia, where the team completed three projects at two schools in the Singazonwe District.

At Kariba South Primary they introduced a litter-picking initiative, cleared an area of large boulders (picture above) to be turned into a playground and refurbished a local business called the “Young Tailor’s Club”, whilst at Siansowa Primary they moved bricks, sand and cement bags 3km from the front of the school’s grounds to the site and constructed a large chicken coup which will be used to provide extra income to the massively underfunded school by selling eggs to the local market.

The Headmistress of Kariba South Primary commented: “The impact the team had on the local community is beyond words” – which would not have been possible without your support.

Everyone in the community expressed appreciation for the projects the team accomplished and the tools that George gifted them on behalf of Suffolk based, non profit, TWAM.

Muscles for Charity co-founder, Bernie Morgan said, “Top Man George. We are all immensely proud of your achievements here – well done”.

Saturday 10th June – three ‘Muscles’ projects 4,725 miles apart !

In the Pacific Northwest of the USA, ten Muscles volunteers enjoyed pressure washing the grounds of a local non profit on a beautiful summer Saturday.

On the east coast of the UK, two Muscles teams, comprising twelve volunteers completed projects for senior citizens at two locations, under the same sunny skies.

The UK team replaced a shed roof, (visit https://musclesforcharity.wordpress.com/muscles-uk/uk-2017/ to see the result),  removed two trees, reinforced a trellis and completed a garden makeover at Martlesham, Suffolk.   Avril the delighted recipient, accompanied by her carer Georgina, identified St Elizabeth Hospice as her designated Charity.

Georgina subsequently commented to Phil, “Thank you very much for the photos. Our greatest appreciation for the job well done by the whole Muscles for Charity Team . It was great joy to meet you and all the team.
May God bless you all. Regards, Georgina “

Seven miles away the second team completed a patio at Pinewood for an equally delighted Veronica.

The USA team were invited by a non profit to pressure wash the front and rear areas of their premises and suggest innovate ways of rejuvenating a tiered communal area.

Pressure washing completed and design plans shared with the management team, who commented, “The patio and gazebo have a new lease on life!  What a difference the cleaning made! I’m so glad you all had an opportunity to hear directly from patients and staff–it’s what it’s all about. Many, many thanks!”

Additional photographs of the projects are available on the these pages of the website, USA Visit https://musclesforcharity.wordpress.com/usa/usa-2017/  Additional UK photos  https://musclesforcharity.wordpress.com/muscles-uk/uk-2017/

 

Muscles team members bring joy to senior citizens on a glorious day in Suffolk.

Saturday 8th April and a dozen Muscles volunteers use their gardening, repair, installation and innovative skills to benefit three different senior citizens on the east and west sides of Ipswich.

Under cloudless skies they completed a variety of projects, including removing and installing a washing machine, painting, interior and exterior repairs, cleaning brick walls and patio, assembling garden furniture and gutter repair.

Comments were received from Veronica “I would like to say a very big thank you to all who came to me today.  An assortment of tasks were given to them and they happily undertook these and an extremely good job was once again made. I so appreciate all they do for me. Best Wishes to all, Veronica xx

and Trish “Many thanks to Bernie, Ed and Phil for all their hard work in my garden on Saturday 8th April. It will now be much easier for me to cope with.My thanks again and love and best wishes to you all. Trish xx     Ps Glad you enjoyed the bacon rolls !!

Thanks to everyone involved and to the ladies for their generous donations to charity.

UK Muscles team ‘Spring’ into action with ‘Good job, good company – great result !’

    The sun shone brightly on Saturday 25th March as the (UK) Muscles team completed a garden makeover that generated goodwill, grateful appreciation and praise from the recipient, 92 year old Val, who was absolutely thrilled with the volunteers work.

‘From all the Humphrey family our sincere thanks to all of the muscles for charity group you have made Simon’s mum’s week she is so pleased with the results’

The morning after the Muscles volunteers completed the project, Val was delighted to open her curtains and look straight down her garden and enjoy the view.

More photographs available on the UK Muscles 2017 page. Visit https://musclesforcharity.wordpress.com/muscles-uk/uk-2017/

Web visitors make 2016 a record year for Muscles for Charity.

The Muscles for Charity website was visited a record number of times during 2016. Recently released statistics by our host (WordPress) revealed that the site was viewed 5,389 times (or 15 times a day, every day !), by almost 1,500 visitors.

Five thousand of the views originated in either the UK, USA, Belgium or Canada, but other countries represented include; Uganda, Norway, Italy, South Africa, Netherlands, Kenya, Tanzania,France, Spain,Zambia, Germany, Mauritius, Australia, Ireland, India, Senegal, Denmark, Israel, Sweden, Pakistan, Ukraine, Qatar, Turkey, Malaysia, Georgia, China, Gambia, Cuba, South Korea, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Mexico, Poland, Costa Rica, Indonesia and Croatia.

At the end of 2016, volunteers had completed 379 completed projects, benefiting 130 non profits or registered charities in 12 countries with voluntary hours (not including travel) exceeding 14,200 hours.

Thanks to everyone for your commitment, hard work, friendship and humour.

Muscles for Charity memories from previous years to welcome the New Year.

To start the New Year, a Phil Boswell production, featuring a selection of Muscles for Charity photos from previous years. Visit this link, and don’t forget to turn up your sound

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kf39y02yxiia84x/MFC%20Smoke%20and%20Mirrors.m4v?dl=0

Happy New Year from everyone at Muscles for Charity.

Festive best wishes from everyone at Muscles for Charity

Festive best wishes from everyone at Muscles for Charity – the year someone at the team’s celebration party had a little too much to drink !

DURING 2016 MUSCLES FOR CHARITY VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 1,000 VOLUNTARY HOURS, BENEFITING 12 DIFFERENT REGISTERED CHARITIES