GYM owner Ged O’Hara is inviting to people to support his bid to provide training for disabled people and those who have suffered spinal injuries.

Ged owns RA Fitness Centre in Winnington, and wants to offer free training in para powerlifting at the gym.

To be able to offer the training he needs to have an adaptive bench, which costs almost £1,000.

He has raised £300 from members of the gym, and is hoping to raise another £400 at a fundraising event at RA Fitness on Monday, May 1.

He is inviting people to take part in a competition on the day involving 12 powerlifting and weightlifting exercises.

Ged is hoping to attract 20 mixed teams of two for the competition, with the cost of entry being £20 per team.

The event will run from 10am to 4pm, and the team which lifts the most on the day will win a £100 prize.

Last year Ged raised money for Combat Stress, a charity which supports veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

“Since then I’ve been trying to work out how to help servicemen with physical injuries,” said Ged.

After working with the Para Powerlifting Federation he is now qualified to train people in the sport, but needs a specialist adaptive bench to be able to offer training sessions.

“I will be offering the para powerlifting training for free, and aiming it at disabled people, including those who have had amputations or have suffered spinal injuries,” he said.

“One of the groups I am targeting the training at is servicemen, and I will be looking for people wanting to take para powerlifting to the next level, to take part in competitions.

“I have raised £300 towards the equipment from gym members, and am trying to raise the rest so I can offer the training as soon as possible.

“The new equipment will be a community asset, and soon as I have the adaptive bench I will be able to offer the free sessions.”

RA Fitness is in Cameron Court, and for details about the fundraising day email ged@rafitness.info