Slimming World members from Plympton, Plymstock and across the rest of Plymouth have joined together to help boost Cancer Research UK.
The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw is a national campaign where members can donate the clothing they no longer need. Local members donated their unwanted clothes, shoes, bags, homeware items and accessories.
At Plymstock Community Centre – which has acted as a bag collection point for the campaign – nearly 500 bags were collected.
Lauren Fidler, Plymstock and Compton Slimming World consultant and team developer said:
“I always look forward to the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw event each year and this one is looking to be our biggest yet.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity for our members to celebrate how far they have come on their weight loss journey and for us to support such a worthwhile cause. Each bag is worth at least £25 for charity, meaning our members have raised over £47,000.”
Bex Hele, who runs the Compton Slimming World group at Compton Methodist Church, said:
“I am completely blown away by the generosity of our members in giving back to our local community by donating the clothes they have slimmed out of.
“Our groups are so much more than a weight loss organisation, we are a community. A way to help and support each other with no judgement. Being surrounded by other people who understand and can relate to each other is so important.
“My members were so excited to once again support this incredible campaign, and alongside Lauren’s group we collected nearly 400 bags! Part of the 1882 collected across the city. Phenomenal!”
The partnership between Cancer Research UK and Slimming World aims to raise awareness of the links between obesity and cancer. Research shows that being overweight or obese is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK.
Lauren added:
“More than one in 20 cancer cases are caused by excess weight so, as well as raising vital funds, the partnership between Slimming World and Cancer Research also supports our shared goal to raise awareness of the links between obesity and cancer, helping people to live healthy lives.”
