By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
A super slimmer from Southport has taken on a fundraising drive for Cancer Research UK by donating the clothes she slimmed out of to the charity’s shops.
Samantha Martinez has lost an incredible 7 stone 6.5lbs since joining the Slimming World Southport with Dee group and has donated 20 bags to Cancer Research UK shops.
She’s taken part in The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw with Cancer Research UK, which is an annual event which takes place in Slimming World groups across the UK.
It sees members donating good quality clothes, shoes, and accessories that no longer fit, and they’re confident they will never need them again.
Sam, 45, said: “Having a wardrobe clear out and seeing my larger clothes all bagged up made me realise how far I’ve come and I’m confident, with the healthy changes I’ve made to what I eat and how active I am, I won’t ever need them again.
“By donating the clothes I’ve slimmed out of through the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw, not only am I celebrating my own weight loss achievements, I’m also raising money for a charity which does vital work.”
Sam joined Slimming World in July 2022 and has gone from a size 24 to size 14.
She said: “When my Slimming Consultant, Dee Wright, explained how the eating plan worked, I was amazed at how much I could eat without feeling like I was on a diet or restricting my food.
“Being able to still make my favourite meals like roast dinners and lose weight has been a game-changer. My favourite recipe is Burger in a Bowl and I love that it tastes just like burger but is a healthy choice.”
Alongside this, Sam also made changes to her activity levels and says Slimming World’s physical activity support programme played a key role in helping her to move more and more often.
She said: “When I joined Slimming World I found it difficult to stand for long periods of time, my weight was affecting me physically and mentally I was on codeine and gabapentin for the pain in my back.
“As I started to lose weight I trained in massage therapy. I can now be on my feet for up to 8 hours a day and then go home and walk my dog in the evening.
“By starting small I was able to gradually increase my fitness levels without feeling overwhelmed and now activity is a natural part of my day-to-day life.
“I’m no longer pre diabetic, I have reduced my high blood pressure and I don’t take pain medication anymore.”
Sam says she couldn’t have achieved all she has without the support of the other members in her group: “Everyone is so supportive – it’s like having a team of cheerleaders on your side each week, group soon became time for myself, to focus on me and my goals, and it’s the highlight of my week now. We have a lot of fun and I have made some fabulous friends too! I’ve been supported to change my mindset and my habits and although I’ve been a Slimming World member before, this time has been so different, I’ve really worked on the thoughts that held me back previously, I feel lighter in weight and in mind!”
Slimming World Consultant Dee Wright, who runs the Slimming World Southport with Dee group, says she’s proud of how Sam has embraced the plan and achieved her dream weight throwing 20 bags of clothes on the day she got to target to support this event.
She said: “It’s always a pleasure and so exciting to see how members get behind The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw when it comes around. Sam is so inspirational and is real proof that with a focused mindset, motivation, commitment and a great support system, it’s possible to reach a weight or clothes size you want to be for good.
“I’m extremely proud of all my members and it makes me so happy to see them confident as they commit to donating their larger clothes knowing that they’ll never need to see them again because they’ve made lasting changes.”
The Slimming World Southport with Dee group, which meets weekly at St Simon and St Jude Church on Old Park Lane collected 1,253 bags worth approximately £37.590 with gift aid to help support life-saving research.
Dee said: “This year was phenomenal and more than I ever dreamed possible!
“Last year we donated 736 bags and this year I was hopeful to reach 1,000, it’s mind blowing just what we have achieved.
“The buzz in group was brilliant and I’m proud of how we came together for a cause that means so much to so many and that will impact not just now but for future generations.”
As well as raising funds for Cancer Research UK, the aim of the event is also to raise awareness of how maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer. Overweight and obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK.
Over the years, Slimming World has raised more than £25 million for Cancer Research UK through a variety of campaigns including The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw and supporting the charity’s Race for Life event series which takes place in June and July in the North West.
Last year, Slimming World members, Consultants and head office staff raised £2.9m for Cancer Research UK through The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw and are aiming to make this year’s total even bigger and better.
The Slimming World Southport with Dee group is held at St Simon and St Jude Church in Southport every Thursday and Friday. If you’d like to join them either pop along or call Dee on 07711 566153.
Or: For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or call 0344 897 8000.
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