STAFF and members at the Fitness Mill in Stroud were put through a slightly different work out than normal, last Thursday.

The Fitness Mill has been supporting the Blue Door Project, an initiative which helps set up gyms across Europe for Syrian refugees.

They generously donated three pieces of equipment to the project, deciding the refugee’s needs were greater than their own.

However, when it came to handing the machines over, moving them proved quite a challenge.

Louise Jensen-Darby of the Fitness Mill said: “The machines weighed about 300 kilogrammes.

“We had to get staff, members and anyone who was in the gym to help.

“We are very proud to be involved in this project and were looking to sell the equipment anyway.

“I doubt we would have got much money for them but one person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure.”

The equipment was collected and driven to Germany by Leah Wild who runs the Blue Door Project.

Louise said: “Leah is the real hero in all of this and I respect what she is doing.

“The next gym is going to be set up in a camp near Athens and we hope to be able to donate more equipment for that.”