A GROUP of super slimmers have swapped lbs for pounds after using their weight loss to raise money to fund life-saving equipment.
Over a six week period the 250 members of Batchley, Church Hill and Ipsley Slimming World groups have shed a staggering 1,722.5lbs as part of a sponsored charity challenge.
As a result of their efforts £1,181 has been raised which has been donated to Redditch Heart Safe.
The charity was set-up by Matchborough couple Robert and Maggie Underwood to fund the purchase and installation of defibrillators across the town following the death of their daughter Charlotte Marie from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome aged 16 and son Craig from cardiac arrest aged 17. Using a defibrillator is the only way of restarting the heart after it has gone into cardiac arrest.
Maggie said what the slimmers had achieved was incredible and as a result they would now be able to offer a defibrillator to Batchley First School.
“I’m astounded at what they’ve achieved. They’ve paid for another defibrillator with hopefully more to come. There’s also a lot more healthier people in the town as a result so they are looking after their hearts in that way as well.”
Slimming World consultant Carron Edmundson said they hoped to be able to fund at least one more defibrillator by the end of the year.
“I never expected this. I thought we might be able to pay for one by the end of the year but we are already well on the way to number two.” she said.
“I’m extremely delighted, not only because we have been able to help the charity but for the members who have made a fantastic effort with their weight loss as well.”
So far 36 defibrillators have been installed across the borough as a result of the Redditch Heart Safe campaign with another five, including the Slimming World donation, waiting to be put in place.
