All 15 members of Carlisle Castle Rotary Club jumped on the cattle weighbridge at the H&H Auction Mart for a collective weigh-in as part of a Big Losers fundraiser.
Their aim is to shed a combined 10 stones from their current total of 191 stones and raise at least £500 through sponsorship and donations for the hospice on Durdar Road.
Secretary Margaret McKay explained they had given themselves two months to reach their target, with a second weigh-in due on November 25.
She said: “It averages out at 10 pounds per person, which is achievable in eight weeks.
“Some people might only want to lose half a stone, some even less than that, but others will want to lose a stone and possibly more.
“I think a lot of people are feeling that they’ve put on pounds during lockdown and would like to be a bit lighter. We’re making use of that as an incentive to lose weight and the hospice will benefit as well.”
At 13 years old, Carlisle Castle is the newest of the city’s three Rotary Clubs.
Margaret said there was no particular plan for losing weight with each member left to their own devices, and they were pleased to be supporting the hospice as it celebrates its 30th anniversary this month.
“We’ll support one another as friends but there’ll be no regime, no diet plan,” she said. “I think everybody’s old enough and wise enough to be able to sort themselves out.
“The hospice is something that I think everybody in Carlisle and the area are so aware that at any time they or a family member could be needing.
“It’s such a tremendous organisation. It’s a charity that everybody locally is keen to support.”
Eleanor Viney, fundraising manager at the hospice, said: “We are so grateful to the Rotary Club of Carlisle castle for choosing to support Eden Valley Hospice as part of the their Big Loser event.
“It’s wonderful to see people coming together as a community to support each other again, and what better way to re-start than with a collective target like theirs! We are not
funded by the NHS, we are a charity and without the kindness of individual fundraisers and groups like the Rotary club of Carlisle Castle we would not be able to keep providing this specialist care, 24 hours a day, free of charge.
“We wish them all the best of luck in shedding the unwanted lbs, and raising much needed pounds for Eden valley hospice. We can’t wait to see the results.”
To support the Rotary Big Losers appeal go to https://www.justgiving.com/team/RotaryBigLosers.
