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Inverness gym raises funds for Mikeysline suicide prevention charity


By Ian Duncan

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Gym 300 owners Nicola and Tom Ashmole with donation of £474 for Mikeysline.
Gym 300 owners Nicola and Tom Ashmole with donation of £474 for Mikeysline.

Gym members who continued paying their subscriptions during lockdown have helped raise funds for an Inverness mental health charity.

Tom Ashmole, who runs Gym 300 in Carsegate Road North in Inverness with his wife Nicola, had to close it in March when lockdown began.

His own struggles, as well as those of members left unable to attend the gym as a result, prompted him to do something for Mikeysline, the Inverness-based suicide prevention charity, and its currently closed Hive drop-in centre

“Attending a gym is not all about physical health but, equally as important, also mental health,” he said.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that the lockdown has affected both the business and, in particular, my mental health.

“Like many other people we have been left in limbo wondering if we will even have a business to go back to.

“Many of our members have become increasingly concerned about their own state of mind due to the fact they cannot attend the gym.”

Around 40 per cent of the gym’s members have continued to pay their monthly subscriptions during lockdown, which Mr Ashmole said had undoubtedly helped the business to survive.

“We decided to donate a pound from every member who had continued to pay and whatever that came to, we would double it from the business account, with all the proceeds going to Mikeysline and The Hive Project,” he said.

“We managed to raise a total of £474.”

Mr Ashmole is now looking forward to the gym being allowed to reopen as soon as possible.

“According to the Scottish Government we will be reopening in phase three, providing the ‘R’ number stays below one. So, we are looking at mid to late July,” he said.

“However, we are ready to open whenever we get the go-ahead. “

Emily Stokes, service manager for Mikeysline, said: “We are extremely grateful to Nicola and Tom and indeed all their gym members who contributed to help raise funds for Mikeysline during this difficult time.

“It means a great deal to us to have your support and the funds raised will help us to continue providing our essential support to others at this time.

“Thank you to everyone at Gym 300.”

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