Slimming World Consultant Ivan Black wins Pride of Britain award for incredible fundraising efforts
A Slimming World Consultant from Londonderry has been awarded a Pride of Britain award in recognition of his stellar fundraising efforts over the past three decades.
Ivan Black has raised over half a million pounds for cancer charities in honour of his family members who passed away with cancer. His fundraising journey began over 30 years ago, following the death of his brother, Ian, from leukaemia. Ivan promised Ian that he’d keep his memory alive and has been fundraising ever since.
For the past seven years, Ivan’s fundraising has been for Cancer Research UK. Each year, Ivan and his group members take part in the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw by donating clothes that they have slimmed out of to sell in the charity’s stores. They once donated 1,600 bags in a year.
Alongside this, the 61-year-old takes part in its Relay For Life, an annual event where teams of friends and families fundraise in the months leading up to a unique festival to remember loved ones, honour everyone affected by cancer, and celebrate the progress being made in the fight against the disease.
Ivan said: “When I set out on this journey, all I wanted was to help one person - I never do any of this for the glory. Losing my brother was devastating and something no family should have to go through, and I made the promise to him during his final days that I would do all I could to honour him and help families like ours deal with such tragedy."
As a Slimming World Consultant, I’m presented with plenty of opportunities to get my members involved with fundraising for Cancer Research UK, such as the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw and Race for Life. They’re so enthusiastic and always get stuck in to help.
After suffering with knee pain, Ivan joined Slimming World in September 2010 and has since lost 7st 10lb. Slimming World’s generous and flexible Food Optimising eating plan means nothing is off limits and has taught Ivan how to identify healthy swaps. Losing weight has eased Ivan’s knee pain and now allows him to complete marathons and other charity hikes.
After taking control of his weight for good, Ivan wanted to take the knowledge and skills he had learned and help others achieve their dreams. He became a Slimming World Consultant in April 2012 and now runs four groups in County Tyrone and County Londonderry.
“One of my goals when I became a Consultant was to encourage more men to feel comfortable walking through the doors to a group. I remember when I first attended my local group, I was one of the only men there. I think it’s easy for a lot of men to assume that Slimming World isn’t for them, that’s absolutely not the case though. Anyone and everyone are welcome at group and will be supported on their journey every step of the way. Being a Slimming World Consultant gives me the flexibility to plan my charity work around running my groups, and the friendships I’ve made over the years are priceless.”
Ivan was thrilled to receive the Daily Mirror UTV Pride of Britain award in September and was flown to London to attend the celebration ceremony. Since his win, Ivan has received recognition from his local mayor and has even been stopped in the street and congratulated.
I feel so privileged to have been awarded the Pride of Britain award and the celebration ceremony was a night I will never forget. I can only describe it all as unbelievable!
Ivan was also recognised at the annual Slimming World Awards in Birmingham, where former athlete Colin Jackson congratulated him on his award and presented him with a special gift from Slimming World too.
On Ivan’s support for the charity, Cancer Research UK fundraising spokesperson for Northern Ireland, Stephen Farrell, said: “We’ve helped to double cancer survival in the UK in the last 50 years and that’s down to the generosity and commitment of supporters like Ivan. Through his passion, drive and determination, he has made an outstanding contribution to our life-saving research.
“Cancer Research UK is working towards a world where everybody can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. We want to say a heartfelt thank you to Ivan for the role he has played in supporting our vital mission.”
Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE in Derbyshire in 1969 and has become the UK and Ireland’s leading weight loss organisation with more people choosing to attend a Slimming World group each week than any other weight loss programme. We support hundreds of thousands of people, both in our groups and online, to lose weight and to adopt new habits to stay slim for life.
Over the years our founding principles haven’t changed:
· Our unique programme is based on a powerfully motivating support system called IMAGE (Individual Motivation and Group Experience) Therapy. Underpinned by a deep understanding of the psychology of people living with overweight and obesity, and incorporating the most effective sustainable behaviour change techniques, IMAGE Therapy is designed to inspire and motivate slimmers to make positive mindset changes and to develop new, healthier habits around food and activity.
· Food Optimising is our healthy eating plan, based on the liberating concept of Free Food. We encourage members to fill up on those foods that are naturally lower in energy density (calories per gram) and also highly satisfying while limiting foods that are highest in fat and sugar and are less satisfying, so they lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived and without having to weigh, measure or count everything they eat.
· Our physical activity support programme, Body Magic helps members to overcome any barriers around exercise. Members choose when to start and they set the pace, finding activities they genuinely enjoy, until regular physical activity becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine.
At the heart of everything we do lies our passion for treating every member with genuine care, empathy and respect.
We’re proud to work with the NHS, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), The Royal College of Midwives, Diabetes UK and others to help shape the future of weight management in the UK and Ireland.
For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit slimmingworld.co.uk or slimmingworld.ie
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For the Press Office visit our newsroom or email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk
About Cancer Research UK
· Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information.
· Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
· Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 50 years.
· Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK wants to accelerate progress and see 3 in 4 people surviving their cancer by 2034.
· Cancer Research UK supports research into the prevention and treatment of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
· Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK is working towards a world where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on X and Facebook.