A local gym owner here in Bloomington-Normal is receiving national attention for letting members take $40,000 worth of equipment home, FOR FREE!

Drew Whitted is the owner of Be Strong Gym. He was forced to close down last month when the stay at home orders were issued for Illinois. However, Drew decided to offer the members of his gym a chance to be able to work-out at home.

Drew offered members the chance to borrow equipment from the gym and take it home for free. According to CNN he was hoping nothing would be left in the gym because as he told his members, “If our members can’t come in and train, we want you to take it home and keep training.”

Some 80 members took Drew up on the offer signing out barbells, weights, exercise bikes, rowers and mats.

In addition, the gym has been holding online training sessions every day to help ensure those pieces of equipment don’t sit idle in people’s homes.

When the stay at home orders are rescinded and he is allowed to re-open his Gym, Drew expects the equipment will be returned quickly. He also believes his members will be ready to start working out together again at that point.

We want to say well-done to Drew Whitted of the Be Strong Gym for stepping up for his members in a way he did not have to. You are one of the people who helps make the Bloomington-Normal area a special place to live and work.

By: Buck Stevens