SLIMMERS in Launceston have raised £1,026 for Cancer Research UK after they got behind a month-long activity campaign celebrating Slimming World’s 50th golden birthday year.

The ‘Golden Body Magic Challenge’ invited slimmers across to the UK and Ireland to cover 50 miles over the month of August to celebrate their weight-loss success. The group, who have collectively lost 339-stone since January, successfully covered 50 miles in lots of different ways from walking, running, rowing and swimming.

The challenge, which is part of Slimming World’s ‘Golden Summer of Celebration’, aims to raise awareness of the links between keeping a healthy weight and reducing the risk of developing some types of cancer.

Slimming World members Freda Lomax and Lucy Breach, from Launceston St John Ambulance Hall group, have lost between them more than 11 stone since joining the group in October 2016.

They were both inspired by this challenge to take up swimming and went along to the local pool together encouraging each other to swim 100 lengths in August.

“Before losing weight this sort of activity would have been a nightmare,” Freda admitted. “But as the weight dropped off my energy and confidence levels grew.”

Lucy who is a very proud mother of twins admitted she wanted to be more active and has enjoyed her Slimming World journey which culminated last year in both reaching her target weight and being crowned as ‘Miss Slinky’.

Lucy said: “From the very first night at Slimming World we were welcomed so warmly and instantly made to feel part of the group. We are all there for the same reason — to lose weight and to help and support each other to do the same.

“The Slimming World food optimising eating plan means we can fill up on lots of tasty everyday meals — we never feel hungry or deprived and can still enjoy favourite meals, like spaghetti carbonara, cottage pies etc.

“At our group we learn that getting more active doesn’t have to be joining the gym or running marathons. It can be walking the kids to school, doing the gardening, hitting the dancefloor — anything that raises the heart rate a little counts which makes it feel so much more manageable.

“We are happier, healthier, more confident of our body image after losing weight, being now confident enough to brave our demons and go swimming.”

“Don’t ever be worried about going to a South West group on your own,” said Freda. “I have met the most amazing people who have helped me so much on my journey and will be forever grateful to them. They are not just a group of people, they are my Slimming World family and friends. It was the best steps I ever made walking into this group.”

Weight-loss consultant Kate Elston, who has lost three and a half stone herself, decided to embrace the challenge to inspire her members. Having recently taken up gig rowing she challenged herself to row 80km over the month of August, this included a kilometre on the water and on the rowing machine. The last 2,000m were completed in group. Members were given the opportunity to try out the rowing machine.

She said: “I’m so proud of all of my members who set themselves the challenge of covering 50miles/80km in August. At Slimming World, we help our members find enjoyable ways of getting more active and encourage them to increase their activity levels step-by-step, until it becomes part of their daily routine.

“I’m sure my members will inspire more people to get active and improve their health, while also helping raise awareness of the links between obesity and cancer. The money raised will go towards an amazing cause — one my members feel very passionate about — helping to support Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research.”

For more information about the Launceston St John Ambulance Hall Slimming World groups or their Golden Body Magic Challenge contact Kate on 07974 041548 or pop along to the group which is held every Monday, Thursday and Saturday at St John Ambulance Hall.

To find out more about more about Slimming World’s Golden Summer of Celebration visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk/golden