Donegal Slimming World raises more than €10,000 for Irish Cancer Society

Four big-hearted local Slimming World consultants, who took part in ‘The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw’, have helped raise more than €10,000 for charity.

The ‘Big Clothes Throw’ is an annual event run by Slimming World in association with The Irish Cancer Society.

The consultants put a shout-out to their members to donate any unwanted clothes, shoes, handbags and household items for the cause. Slimming World provided orange carrier bags for members to use, and each filled bag was worth an average of €25 to The Irish Cancer Society.

When the girls put the call out this year, the members really got behind them. Consultants Marie Murphy and Anne-Marie McGee have groups in Buncrana, while Anne-Marie also has a group in Newtowncunningham.

Catherine Bond and Kellie Durey operate from the St Eunans GAA Clubhouse in Letterkenny, while Catherine also has a group in Kerrykeel, with Michelle McCall's members in both the Vestry and Gweedore getting behind the initiative as well.

Consultant Anne-Marie says they were overwhelmed by the support.

“Once we brought this to our members, they instantly got behind us, and while we were unsure how many bags we would collect, nothing could have prepared us for what came in,” she said.

“Marie Murphy had been in touch with Mick the van driver to arrange collection, Ruth Garvey-Williams in The Exchange in Buncrana kindly allowed us to store the bags for collection, and we gathered a team to organise loading the van.”

“The bags started arriving the week before collection and we really couldn't believe the volume coming in. Members were dropping in dozens of bags, Michelle was delivering carloads from Gweedore and Letterkenny, Catherine and Kellie put a few extra miles on the cars up and down from Letterkenny, while Anne-Marie with the help of one of her fabulous members Cathriona had trailer and carloads arrive from Newtown.”

READ NEXT: More money needed to upgrade toilets

Anne-Marie added: “Even the children got on board, coming into the hall to help sort and bag any loose items ahead of collection. They loved being part of something so worthwhile.”

There were so many bags that a second van run from Mayo to Buncrana was needed and in the end some 430 bags of clothes, along with household items and bric-a-brac, was donated to the Irish Cancer Society, raising an impressive total of €10,750.

The Slimming World consultants and their members are already looking forward to their next charity endeavour – participating in the Relay for Life in Donegal at Letterkenny ATU campus on May 24.

“Anyone wanting to get involved with us can just get in touch,” Marie Murphy added. “Alone we can do a little, together we can do a lot, so let's keep making a difference.”