First responders receive donation of fitness equipment

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – First responders did some heavy-lifting Wednesday morning, as they picked up a generous donation in Roanoke.

This week, Planet Fitness at Towers Shopping Center is bringing in close to $200,000 worth of new strength and cardio equipment. And the business donated more than 200 pieces that are being replaced to Roanoke Fire-EMS and the Bedford Police Department.

“Being a smaller agency with a smaller budget, it’s really difficult to get just about anything we would need, let alone exercise equipment, so we partnered with them and they very generously donated us a lot of things that we can use,” said Bedford Police Lieutenant Stephen Swain.

“Not only are these items that we need, but these items are just about in brand new condition, which are going to be awesome for our firefighters to utilize to stay fit,” said Rhett Fleitz, Roanoke Fire EMS Battalion Chief of Training.

The Roanoke firefighters filled two trucks with equipment that will eventually be distributed among 11 fire stations and the city’s training center.

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