SLIMMERS have donated piles of old ill-fitting clothes to charity in a bid to turn their size-dropping success into life-giving cash.
Slimming World members from Brentwood and Ongar gathered up their oversized garments by the bag-load before donating them to Cancer Research UK.
"It has been a great effort by everyone" said Tracy Stringer, the Slimming World organiser for both towns.
"By donating our old clothes, slimming can benefit both the slimmer and the charity."
The slimmers dropped off more than 90 bags of clothing, worth around £2,700 to the cancer charity's shop in Brentwood High Street on Saturday.
"It took four cars to get all the bags to the shop on Brentwood High Street," said Ms Stringer, 48.
"The sheer number of bags was quite a sight.
"Slimming is very rewarding for the slimmer but it is nice to be able to make it rewarding for a charity as well."
Cecelia Arias, manager at the Brentwood Cancer Research shop, said: "Everything we raise for charity comes from donations.
"Without the donations of clothes and everything else we wouldn't be able to raise the money that we do and help to beat cancer."
The garment-giving scheme has been going on across the country, with many different Slimming World groups taking part in The Clothes Throw.
The local Slimming World groups have been very charitable in recent months – in April they raised over £2,000 by walking from Budworth Hall in Ongar to the cricket ground in Brentwood.
The idea was the brainchild of super-slimmer Jo Keating, of Ongar, who has lost over seven stone since joining Slimming World.
Mrs Stringer is also organising a charity "Zumbathon" in June where members will take part in a non-stop Zumba class.
"Slimming World has partnered with Cancer Research UK this year but I will also be putting on as many charity fundraisers as I can," she said.
Finbar Sheehan of Cancer Research UK said: "Cancer Research UK's shops have been overwhelmed by the amazing response from local Slimming World groups.
"With each bag worth around £25 – and even more with Gift Aid.
"These goodies from the Brentwood and Ongar groups will go a long way to helping to bring forward the day when cancers are cured."
