The organiser of the London Marathon is to fund the expansion of running community GoodGym across three new locations in London to help spread physical activity and social good.

GoodGym – an initiative which seeks to make the the act of running more purposeful and socially useful – will be able to expand operations across London and support up to 5,000 runners to do good with their training over the next year, thanks to a grant of £50,000 from London Marathon Events.

Founded by fitness enthusiast Ivo Gormley, GoodGym works with the NHS, charities and local community centres to match runners to a housebound elderly person who would like a regular visitor. The concept has since been expanded to include projects aiding homeless shelters, community gardens and many more worthy causes.

The London Marathon funding enables GoodGym to launch new locations in Southwark, Lambeth and Greenwich. Sessions are free and open to all, with GoodGym is organising special group runs for new runners throughout the month of January.

“This is going to be huge. The London Marathon is an extraordinary, mammoth event and it’s brilliant that we have the support of the organisers to take GoodGym to the next level,” said Ivo Gormley.

“GoodGym is a really easy way to integrate doing something for your community into your exercise. If you’re already running then it might only take 15 minutes to change your route slightly and drop in to visit an isolated older person.”

Hugh Brasher, event director for London Marathon Events, added that the chance to support an initiative which promotes social cohesion is a welcome expansion on its fundraising initiatives.

“We are very proud that our events have enabled participants to raise incredible amounts of money for a huge range of charities over the years but GoodGym is something different and probably the most innovative running club in the world,” said Brasher.

“It’s a different reason to lace up your shoes and one that benefits others as much as yourself.”

To read a profile of GoodGym from Ray Algar’s Gymtopia Series – in the July 2014 edition of Health Club Management – click here.