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Big knickers come off in flab fight

Jo Rostron
29/ 6/2005

RAISING charity cash will be the incentive for one Heywood woman looking to overcome her battle with the bulge.

Tracey Schofield, 36, of Victoria Terrace, is embarking on a sponsored drive to lose weight in aid of Cancer Research UK.

She explained: "I want to lose weight anyway and my mum died of cancer five years ago. It was the anniversary of her death in May and I thought this way will force me do it and I can help someone else at the same time."

And Tracey, who lives with partner Alan and their 18-month old daughter Hannah, will not be short of encouragement for her efforts. She runs the crèche at Fitness Connections on Bethel Street and staff there are right behind her.

The gym's owner, Julie Lilywhite, will be acting as her personal trainer and will oversee the weekly weigh-in.

"Altogether I am looking to lose five stone but I'm only being sponsored for six months so in that time I want to lose three, at the rate of half a stone each month.

"I want to do it in a sensible and healthy way."

To publicise the fact that she is doing it for charity Tracey has put up a board at the ladies'-only gym with various items of clothing stuck to it to represent the weight and they will come off as the pounds do.

"I wanted to do it in the style of Bridget Jones and so it even has big knickers and a massive bra."

She will be writing a diary of how she has gone on each week to go alongside it and her sponsorship forms are available for anyone wishing to lend their support. She is hoping to raise around £2,000 for Cancer Research UK.