Men weigh in to good cause

NINE brave Waterford businessmen have begun their very own Operation Transformation by throwing their weight behind a campaign to raise funds for cancer patients.

The gutsy entrepreneurs are bidding to slim down, shed a few pounds and raise badly needed funding for the South East Cancer Foundation.

They’re now a week into the challenge and have been banned from pubs, take-away premises and cake stores in a calorie-counting marathon they must keep up until March 31.

“It’s murder,” according to former mayor and sitting city councillor Cha O’Neill. The last time Cha took part in a similar drive for a cancer charity, he helped raise more than €€15,000. That time, he lost over two stone. Cha is joined on the slimathon by Mattie and Conor O’Shea and Tony Ryan of O’Shea Transport; well-known auctioneer Rody Keigery; Stephen Walshe of Walshe Print; bank manager Eamonn Rice, businessman Eddie Power and accountant Tom Greene.

“I miss battered sausages the most,” said Cha.

“We began our new regime on Monday last. We’ve now been told we’re off the drink too. And we’ve Cheltenham, St Patrick’s Day and Easter coming up. It’s like Lent is being extended for a few extra weeks,” he said.

Cha and the lads have all signed up with Unislim and are under the watchful eye of Mary Smith at the John of Gods Centre. They weigh in every Monday night and their progress is also being mapped by expert nutritionist Aoife Hearne, of Nutrition Solutions, who is helping the men eat their way to a healthier life.

Each volunteer has sponsorship cards and support for their drive has been phenomenal. Cards have also been distributed to various pubs and clubs in the city. Given the high profile of the SECF, it is hoped that the fund-raiser will net significant funds for the very worthy appeal.

SECF is an independent charity set up in 1999 to provide counselling, reflexology, massage, art therapy, and above all support to cancer patients and their families. The SECF now needs to double its capacity to serve the growing requirements, according to Mel Morgan, chairman of the fundraising committee.

“We are currently based in a temporary rented suburban home, which does not have the space we need to adequately cater for increasing demand,” he said.