THE STEVE Bernard Foundation has unveiled a new free outdoor gym at Toft Zig Zag between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.

The Steve Bernard Foundation was set up in memory of Steve Bernard following his death at the age of 18 in a car accident in November 2005.

Following his death, his family and friends were inundated with support and donations, which they put towards furthering what Steve loved best, sport.

Since the foundation was formed in February 2006, it has gone on to raise more than £500,000 for sporting projects based across Bournemouth, Dorset and the South Coast.

The Foundation’s latest venture is the creation of a new outdoor gym on the beach which was match funded by the Talbot Village Trust.

The park includes a dip bench, shaped benches, pull-up bars, a rope climber and push-up bars, among other equipment and will be accessible to all.

Steve’s father Tony Bernard said: “This is a beach fitness park that has been funded by Steve’s foundation and the Talbot Village Trust came on board with us because our son Stevie loved the beach, he loved the sea and he loved fitness so it was a perfect fit so we spoke to BCP Council and they said they were looking to make a fitness hub in this area so they gave us permission to build the fitness park here.

“The reason we set up the foundation is Stevie was at Chichester University and five of them went out to the cinema and they were hit head on by a car, three of them died instantly and two of the others were seriously injured.

“One of them who is here today was given her last rights, they said she wouldn't survive but she has and they said she wouldn't have a daughter but she has and we became god parents. This beach park is everything that Stevie would have wanted, he loved sports and we’re very fortunate that we managed to get a heavyweight charity Talbot Village Trust onboard, they're brilliant those guys, they do so much good.

“Stevie and Jacques, my other son, both of them went to St Marks school and Stevie’s buried at St Mark's Church and that’s where Talbot Village Trust is based so it was a really nice connection.”

Steve’s brother Jacques said: “My brother was always massively into sport and everything to get people involved in sport so the beach fitness park was the perfect scenario for us to build a park that people can use for free, down by the beach which he loved and for the charity to have something here in the middle of Bournemouth and Boscombe Pier, it just means the world to us. We hope to see lots of people using it and hopefully it will inspire people to get fit.”

England netball star Geva Kate Mentor CBE and GB gymnast Nathan Bailey, joined the event to open the park.

Bournemouth Echo:

Geva Mentor said: “It’s fantastic to be here today, I’ve managed to take a week off my pre-season, I flew in from Australia yesterday, came down here for the week and what a fantastic turn out already.

“It’s all about community and bringing people together. It’s great to see people from gymnastics and netball, from football, the Steve Bernard Foundation and we’re grateful to Talbot Village Trust and Ollie with his great designs for putting this together.

“The beach front is just a fantastic location to workout, put yourself through the paces and look out to the sea and be able to see the Purbeck on one side and the polar bear on the other.

“The main thing for us is we want it to be accessible for everybody, so we’ve got people from all walks of life, young and old, all abilities and I think that’s what makes it so special.”