Slimming World group raises €900 for cancer charities

A local Slimming World group recently presented a cheque of €900 to Cuan Cancer Care Cavan and Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care.

The group gave up something for the duration of lent, increased their step count and at the end donated to both charities. The initiative was started by Michelle Connolly who attends the group, and knows first-hand the services that both charities provide after losing her own mum to cancer.

"I wrote in the page that we have for Slimming World, would anybody be interested in perhaps giving up something for lent for the seven weeks and perhaps at the end of the seven weeks we could maybe donate money towards two locals charities?

"The idea was to donate at the end of the seven weeks," she said, while they also gave up their "trigger food" and took on to walk "as many steps as we possibly could".

He continued: "Basically, we're helping ourselves and helping two local charities, which was the idea of it all."

The idea got a "huge response" from those in the group.

"I couldn't believe it," said Michelle.

She explained how Cuan "helps families through counselling and prepares them for whatever may be coming in the future", while she described Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care as an "excellent care service".

At the end of the seven weeks, the group raised €900, a "colossal amount of money for a smallish group", which they split in half and presented to the two charities. Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care Representative Sinead Hoey and Cuan representatives RoseMarie Joziasse and Angela Callaghan attended on the day and accepted the donations.

"They explained to us that this money goes directly to the families affected by cancer, for example counselling, maybe help with travelling expenses... things that are a financial burden.

"They were extremely grateful for the money received."

"I know that both charities are just unreal, they're brilliant and I think they need to get a lot more recognition."

Liz Reynolds' Saturday morning Slimming World group meets every Saturday morning at the Cavan Crystal Hotel at 8:30am.