A BOXING trainer who has been affected by depression is hosting fitness sessions to help awareness charity Mind and encourage sufferers to speak out.

Gary Crickson is head coach at Forge Fitness, on Warrington Road, which is the first boxing gym to be opened in Rainhill.

Gary will be joined by assistant coach, army veteran Daniel Forster, to hold Forge Fitness Training Systems at schools in the village.

Mixed adult classes will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm, at Longton Lane Community Primary School, Rainhill; and on Thursday at 7pm and Sunday at 3pm at Rainhill High School.

The gym has done previous charity work helping with toy appeals at Whiston Hospital for the past three years.

And Gary says he chose Mind because depression and mental health is an issue close to his heart.

He said: “There is a big push for mental health awareness at present, and depression doesn’t discriminate.

"I have lost good friends to depression and have suffered myself with it over the years, and I want to help raise awareness particularly amongst young men, to encourage them to talk and realise that there is help out there available them, nobody should be ashamed or afraid to speak out if you are suffering.

"It's my aim to do more classes across the borough to continue supporting this cause and so you can look out for the hashtags #EndTheStigma #DoILookWeakToYou across social media and help spread awareness.

"I am also in contact with local councillor James Tasker, to link up together to raise as much awareness locally and help people as much as we can."

The gym can already claim to have helped a world champion, having helped Lee 'The Butcher' Chadwick to a three fight winning streak culminating in winning the Cage Warriors World Middleweight title on home turf at Liverpool Echo Arena, which was broadcast internationally on BT Sports.

Chadwick also was sponsored by businesses including Louis William Jewellers on Ormskirk Street and Watson & Co Barbers, with Lee and the team invited to meet the mayor at St Helens town hall.

Gary added: "I am proud of what the gym has achieved so far and I am determined to keep pushing to paint our town in a positive light.

"Getting kids active and healthy, perhaps enabling them to spend less time on their games consoles etc and also helping adults to get fitter, be healthier, is our aim too as our classes have a great team spirit and people make new friends and feel better about themselves. Everybody is welcome at Forge Fitness."