Losing lbs to gain £s

Ten members of Slimming World raised £300 in memory of Mary McGill.

Mary, a mother-of-five of Frobisher Drive, Walcot, died from cancer of the oesophagus in February at the age of 55.

She was a keen member of the group, which meets at St John's Church in Haydon Wick.

Peter Kidd, 38, who runs the classes, said: "Mary and I became friends after we met about three years ago at a slimming class.

"When I became a slimming consultant Mary came to my classes. She was a lovely lady."

Even after Mary was diagnosed with cancer last year, she continued to attend classes.

When she became severely ill she was cared for by Macmillan nurses.

Peter, a railway signal engineer, from Queens Avenue, in Highworth, added: "Mary always spoke very highly of the nurses.

"They took very good care of her, and looked after her over Christmas.

"She lost a lot of weight because of the cancer, but she continued to attend classes because she had a lot of friends here.

"She was wonderful, and would always help people out."

The group decided to donate the proceeds from this year's annual sponsored slim to the Swindon Cancer Appeal.

The class lost around four stones between them.

Appeal manager Graziella Campisano said: "Slimming can be difficult but the members at Slimming World took that challenge on to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

"On this occasion they are slimmer, fitter and have made money for charity.

"As these super slimmers have shown, you can turn absolutely anything into a fund-raising event.

"The appeal total keeps rising.

"Our office, in Milton Road, receives numerous phone calls everyday with individuals pledging their support and suggesting fund-raising ideas.

"We are so pleased at the continued success of the appeal.

"If it continues like this we will definitely make our target.

"We are almost a sixth of the way there already. Thank you to the people of Swindon and Marlborough. We couldn't do it without you."