A COMMUNITY has come together to raise funds for charity and promote mental-health wellbeing following the death of a personal trainer from Farnworth.

Lewis Kirby, who ran his own business Push Through Fitness, died aged 28 in April.

He had struggled with his mental health for several years.

His best friend Chelsea Nicholson has organised several fundraiser events in his memory with a 10 mile walk planned this Friday.

Following his death, she set up a Facebook page to raise money for charity, with an initial target of £1,000. The page has now surpassed £14,000.

Chelsea, along with Lewis’ friends and a family have left messages of positivity tied to fences in Farnworth Park as Lewis was a big fan of inspirational quotes.

Unfortunately some of these have been ripped off, believed to have been done by youths messing around.

Chelsea said: “I helped run Lewis’ social media for his business and for the past few years he was big on the inspirational quotes and he said they made a huge difference to him.

“We decided to put some around the park so that if anyone was feeling down they can read them and know they’re not alone.

“But several of them were ripped down which is really sad, we think it might have been kids involved who don’t fully understand what the quotes mean.

“The local councillors are aware of it and they’ve said there’s a bit of anti-social behaviour happening around there. We’ve even had messages from people who’ve said they’ve seen the messages and it’s helped them feel better.”

On May 28 around 200 people gathered in the park for a fitness fundraising challenge which saw people lift 100kg tyres and a 100kg stretcher. This Friday a 10 mile walk will begin from Lewis’ flat in Farnworth, starting at 10pm.

Chelsea added:”We’re doing the walk at night because we know that’s when Lewis struggled most. The route will be going through Farnworth, into Walkden, Swinton and Kearsley.

“The response to the fundraiser has been amazing, if Lewis could see it now he would be crying, he was a big softie.

“Everytime I check the amount I feel overwhelmed, I didn’t expect it to raise this much.

“I haven’t decided on which charities yet, probably one focusing on Borderline Personality Disorder which Lewis struggled with, and a charity which helps disadvantaged children because Lewis was passionate about that.”

For more about fundraising and the walk, visit the Facebook page Push Through for Lew.

You can donate to the Just Giving Page here.