Shed Those Pounds To Help City Charity
26th March 2008
Slimmers are successfully shedding the pounds in order to raise more for a city-based charity.
Jeff Merrett, chairman of Dream-A-Way, says sponsored slimmers are now halfway to their deadline
of Sunday, June 6, to lose weight for a good cause.
Around 100 people have now signed up to the Dream-A-Weigh event, with more than two-thirds of the participants joining in after the story was featured in the Echo. All proceeds will help Dream-A-Way, an Exeter based charity which is run entirely by volunteers and which arranges holidays for seriously ill or disabled people of all ages from across the South West.
Jeff said: "We are half way to the finish and, from speaking to a few of our challengers, it sounds as if there are quite a few who are heading to success.
"I have so far banked more than £2,000 from donations received from various 'dream-a-weighers' and would like to say well done."
An event to mark the halfway point was held for participants at the Kings pub, in Cowick Street, St Thomas, earlier this month.
Landlady Cath Coysh let the charity use the pub's function room and offered some low-calorie options on her menu.
Many other events will also be held to help the charity. Kart racing will be held at Raceworld, off the A3052 Exeter to Sidmouth road near Woodbury, on April 2, May 14, June 4, June 25 and July 23. It costs £120 per team for up to six drivers, including 30 minutes' practice and a two-hour endurance race. To book a team, call Gill Freeman on 07979 854 203 or Jeff Merrett on 07796 442 144. For more info, view the Karting Page on the Dream-A-Way website.
Dream-A-Way is also one of the chosen charities to feature at the Exmouth Kite Festival, organised by Exmouth Rotary. Popular live band Joey The Lips will perform on Friday, May 30, to launch the event which follows on Saturday and Sunday.
There will also be a collection in aid of Dream-A-Way during the live outdoors gigs organised by the Prospect pub on Exeter's Quay, on Friday, August 22, to Sunday, August 24, inclusive. The bands are Soul Agents, Thick As Thieves and Diamondogz.
The charity's Crystal Ball will be held at Exeter Chiefs' rugby ground, Sandy Park, on Friday, June 20, with tickets priced £45 and entertainment including a gig by Soul Agents. More info here.
Dream-A-Way will also host its first Dragonboat Race Challenge on the Quay on Sunday, August 31, sponsored by the Echo, Heavitree Brewery, South West Crane Hire and Supreme Cleaning. Details.
To find out about how to buy tickets for these events, visit the Future Events section of the Dream-A-Way website, which is produced by committee member Steve Beer.
Story Courtesy of the Express & Echo