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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
James Martin McCarthy

East Belfast slimmers donate old clothes to raise money for cancer charity

Slimmers are dropping pounds and bagging up all the clothes they’ve slimmed out of to raise cash for a good cause in The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw.

Members of the Gilnahirk Slimming World group in East Belfast have spring-cleaned their closets and are donating the clothes that no longer fit their new slimline figures to their local Cancer Research UK shop.

Ashleigh Allen, who runs the group which meets at Gilnahirk Baptist Church every Wednesday, says members were delighted to get behind the cause and jumped at the chance to recycle their old tops, dresses, trousers, skirts and more.

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The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw is a nationwide fundraising drive that sees Slimming World members across the UK donating clothes to Cancer Research UK. Each bag of clothes collected could raise up to £25 and the members of Gilnahirk Baptist group donated an incredible 356 bags.

“Members in the Gilnahirk group have lost an amazing 143 stone since January this year and they’re feeling fantastic!," Ashleigh said.

"Lots of people have dropped down clothes sizes and their wardrobes are full of clothes that are too big and baggy now. At Slimming World we support members to develop new healthy habits around food and activity that last a lifetime, so they were happy to give them away because they know that they’re never going to need them again!"

Ruth McCreery, who has lost 7 stone and dropped from size 22 to 10/12 , said: “I found it really liberating to get rid of all my old clothes and I’m not worried about ever needing them again because this is me now – there’s no going back!

"It’s not just a more healthy diet that I love since I joined Slimming World, I’m much more active now too.

"I exercise regularly and its all just part of my new life, so much so that I sometimes forget I wasn’t always like this. And it’s wonderful to think that I’ve supported the other members of the group to achieve their own weight loss dreams at the same time.

"I really look forward to my Wednesday evenings in group, Ashleigh is an amazing Consultant and I have met so many friends for life who are on this journey with me."

Cancer Research UK shops welcomes clothes in all shapes, sizes and styles and was thrilled to receive such a huge donation of clothing from the Gilnahirk Slimming World group.

Cancer Research UK were delighted that Slimming World members have chosen to use their success to raise money for such a great cause. The money their old clothes raise will make a huge difference to people fighting cancer.

Ashleigh added that anyone who’d like to slim down like these generous Slimming World members is welcome at the Gilnahirk group, which meets every Wednesday at 5.00pm and 6.30pm at Gilnahirk Baptist Church should give her a call on 07731 420680 or just come along.

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