Fitness fans have been urged to come along to a Bell-Free event to support Acorns Children’s Hospice and an England Cricketer’s Benefit.

Advent client The Belfry in Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, is holding a special four-week promotion as part of Ian Bell’s Benefit Year to mark his decade’s service to Warwickshire Cricket Club.

Members of Health & Wellness at The Belfry can bring along a guest for free between July 1 and 31, 2011 in return for a donation. A percentage of each donation will go to the Acorns Children’s Hospice who provide specialist care and services to youngsters with life limiting and life threatening conditions.

Bell, who scored his first Ashes century last winter as England celebrated a 3-1 series win over Australia to retain The Ashes, said he was pleased to support a great idea to encourage people to get fit and support a worthwhile local charity.

“This has been a busy 12 months and the final planning for my benefit year took place whilst I was in Australia,” he said.

“It is a really exciting time for me and the “Bell-Free” event is a good way of persuading more people to come along and use the fantastic new Health & Wellness facilities and make a donation to the Acorns Children’s Hospice.

“I have been to The Belfry before to play golf on the Brabazon and PGA National courses because I have lived in Birmingham for around ten years now and we are hoping to stage an autumn twilight golf event here towards the end of my special year.”

Ian Cross, director of sales at The Belfry, said the recently refurbished facilities are ideal for professional and amateur sportsmen and women as well as occasional gym users.

“Our gym has been totally transformed because it has been extended and we have installed a vast range of state-of-the-art equipment,” he said.

“Ian had a go at a couple of pieces of equipment which are similar to those used by the England cricket team which is a great endorsement.

“We hope the Bell-Free event will not only support Ian in his benefit year but help in his aim to raise as much money as possible for Acorns Children’s Hospice as well as being an ideal opportunity for our members to bring along their friends and family for free to enjoy a workout in the gym or have a dip in the pool.”

PICTURE CAPTION: Ian Bell (left) with Mark Knox from The Belfry