When Dave Earle set up Spit N Sawdust Gym four years ago it consisted of just one rather run-down room where he offered fitness classes for overweight people.
But his unintimidating 'take all' ethos and boundless enthusiasm to turn people's lives around soon got people flocking to his gym in North Bar, Banbury, and has seen him take over the whole building. It now runs boxercise, a boxing club, Thai boxing and sessions with youth offenders.
Over the years Mr Earle has received donations of equipment from gyms, schools and individuals, and during the Christmas period the generosity of a local business and his own members saw a new floor laid at the club, a new reception area, shop and outside light.
"I can't believe what local people have given me and how they have helped. It's brilliant," said 43-year-old Mr Earle of Samuelson Court, Banbury. "The floor cost about £700 but it would have been four times that if John Nicolls hadn't given us the materials at a discount and four of my members hadn't given up their Christmas holidays to lay it.
"It's like realising a dream when I look at how far the gym's come."
Funding was raised by a sponsored run by club members which brought in about £2,000 last year.
Mr Earle, five-time holder of the Home Counties boxing title and a former British Kickboxing Champion, has been taking fitness classes part-time since the age of 15.
Following the death of his parents through illnesses linked to smoking, alcohol and weight gain, he was inspired to quit his job as a warehouseman and set up his own gym to try to stop others suffering the same fate.
"The next thing is tarmacing the road outside the club, hopefully with the support of nearby businesses," he said. "The club's got about 100 members with lots of different jobs and they are always willing to help. It was club members who built the boxing ring.
"It's just about getting fit; it's relaxed and friendly, not sterile like a lot of gyms. We've got all the usual equipment but there's not the sense of competitiveness or having to wear the right things.
"I run the gym as a business but it's not so much profit based. I live for it; it's what makes me tick. What I do here changes people's lives and is something I'd happily do for free; it's fantastic.
"But since I started I've been working to the edge of my overdraft limit and putting in 12-hour days. I'm hoping this year things will be more comfortable and I might even get a holiday."