Slimming World scoops national award for Cancer Research UK fundraising campaign

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Slimming World has won a national award for its Big Slimming World Clothes Throw campaign, which raised more than £3.2 million for Cancer Research UK in just two weeks.

The initiative, which has been running since 2013 and generated more than £15 million worth of stock for the charity so far, won the ‘Best Fundraising Campaign’ award under the Collaboration category at PR Week’s national Purpose Awards 2020.

The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw invites Slimming World group members and the Consultants who run the groups to donate the clothes and accessories they have successfully slimmed out of to local Cancer Research UK shops via their community-based groups. The campaign is also used to highlight the links between maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of developing cancer. It takes place over just two weeks, and each filled bag could be worth up to £25 to the charity, or up to £30 including Gift Aid. Last year, in celebration of Slimming World’s 50th anniversary, the campaign was renamed ‘The Big Golden Slimming World Clothes Throw’, and members won shopping-related prizes by finding golden bags amongst the usual purple ones.

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Male Slimmer of the year Tony Westaway, from Woodbury Salterton in Exeter,Devon. He weighed nearly 28st and says he was ‘knocking on death’s door’ – he had heart problems, was borderline Type 2 diabetic and struggled to walk without being in pain and out of breath. After being told he was too big to sit in seats with extra leg room in the emergency exit aisle of a plane, Tony joined Slimming World with his wife Gail and has since transformed his life. He has now been named Slimming World’s Man of the Year 2017. STRICTLY EMBARGOED until 10.01am on Thursday 24th August, 2017....Collect photo. Slimmer of the year Tony Westaway, from Woodbury Salterton in Exeter,Devon. He weighed nearly 28st and says he was ‘knocking on death’s door’ – he had heart problems, was borderline Type 2 diabetic and struggled to walk without being in pain and out of breath. After being told he was too big to sit in seats with extra leg room in the emergency exit aisle of a plane, Tony joined Slimming World with his wife Gail and has since transformed his life. He has now been named Slimming World’s Man of the Year 2017.

The campaign has been running annually up to 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic caused Slimming World groups to run virtually from March through to August and thus cancelling this year’s event.

The PR Week Purpose Awards were presented virtually on Thursday 17th September. The Best Fundraising Campaign Award recognises initiatives that involve multiple organisations and focus on raising money for a specific cause. The winning campaign was chosen for raising awareness towards both the cause and the organisation behind it.

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This award is a thank you to all Slimming World members, Consultants, Team Developers, managers in the field and staff across the organisation who were part of last year’s record-breaking campaign – and who have been part of our incredible fundraising since 2013.

Catherine Fox, Slimming World Marketing Manager

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Slimming World’s Marketing Manager, Catherine Fox, says: “This award is a thank you to all Slimming World members, Consultants, Team Developers, managers in the field and staff across the organisation who were part of last year’s record-breaking campaign – and who have been part of our incredible fundraising since 2013. Every piece of clothing, pair of shoes and accessory collected has helped make a difference by raising money to help fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. This news comes at a difficult time for charities and communities and, so, is lovely news to hear in a challenging climate.

“We’re really proud of our partnership and the money raised through it helps fund research into cancers related to obesity with the goal to accelerate the understanding of the links between weight and cancer. By sharing information and expertise, the partnership builds on this understanding and reaches new audiences with important messaging.”

Caro Evans, Director of Partnerships at Cancer Research UK, says: “We’re delighted that the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw won ‘Best Fundraising Campaign’ at PR Week’s Purpose Awards. We’re incredibly proud of our partnership and want to say a huge thank you to the dedicated Slimming World members, Consultants and staff who have given their generous support to the campaign over the years.

“We won’t stop working towards making progress for people affected by cancer and the money raised through the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw will help us continue our life-saving work.”

To find out more about Slimming World or your nearest group visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk

ENDS

PICTURED: Tony Westaway, who lost 13½st with Slimming World.

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About Slimming World

Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell (OBE, FRSA) in 1969. Members join local weekly groups or an online programme. Groups are run by a network of community-based Slimming World Consultants across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Consultants are trained in the role of diet and physical activity in weight management, as well as recognised behaviour-change techniques. Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, is based on the science of energy density and satiety. Our phased activity programme, Body Magic, eases members into activity until it becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine. Slimming World’s programme integrates practical, up-to-date advice with a highly-developed support system based on care and compassion, and Consultant training focuses on facilitating, encouraging and empowering members to make changes in a supportive, warm and friendly group environment. Consultant training is delivered through the Slimming World Academy. Slimming World also invests in a comprehensive research programme to develop its support for long-term weight management. The group support provided by Slimming World is recognised as effective by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the NHS. Following the suspension of weekly groups as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Slimming World launched a temporary virtual service. Find out more about Slimming World’s step-by-step safe reopening, where guidance and venues allow, here.

For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit slimmingworld.co.uk Follow Slimming World on Twitter at www.twitter.com/slimmingworld or become a Slimming World fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/slimmingworld

For the Press Office please 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.
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 40 years.
Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.
Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

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 Twitter and Faceboo