Ronnie aims to kill two birds stone by stone
Fionnula Savage from Clic Sargent runs the tape around Ronnie Herdman at the start of his diet challenge. INBL02-HERDMAN2
A DROMORE man is hoping the public will weigh-in behind his efforts to kill two birds stone by stone.
Joining forces with CLIC Sargent, Ronnie Herdman (31) is setting out to shed pounds on the one hand and raise them on the other, intending his loss to be the children’s cancer charity’s gain.
After a lifelong struggle with his weight, new dad Ronnie has chosen to go public with his latest, and hopefully last, attempt to permanently slim down, trusting to the local community to keep him focused on getting fit for his baby daughter while at the same time digging deep for children and young people with cancer.
To that end The Leader will periodically check in on Ronnie as he tries over the next year to lose as much weight as possible.
“At thirty one,” he said, “I have struggled with my weight all my life and have at times lost weight only to put it all back on again.
“I have decided that I now need to permanently lose the weight for the sake of my health. I also want to lose weight more than ever as I have recently become a daddy for the first time and want to be fit and healthy to run around and play with my daughter when she gets a bit older.”
Ronnie is determined that this time there’ll be no backing down.
“It is easy to start a diet,” he said, “and even easier to stop it. By making my idea public there is no turning back for me and I am going to have to stick to the plan.
“It’s not just me I would be letting down, but all the people who sponsor me and of course all the children and young people who I’m raising the money for, so this is a big incentive for me to make sure I don’t come ‘off the rails’!”
He added, “I have chosen CLIC Sargent because of the fantastic work they do for children and young people with cancer.
“There are of course a number of great charities that I could have chosen but I felt that, unfortunately, cancer is something that has affected nearly everyone in some shape or form and if the money I raise helps a child or their family in any way then the whole fundraising effort will be worth it.”
Ronnie, whose GP will be closely monitoring his progress, is asking people either to pledge money for each stone he loses or make a one-off donation. To support his efforts you can call into JP Corry’s Dromore branch, where Ronnie is employed, and make your donation at reception, or visit Ronnie’s online fundraising page - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ronniesdiet.
Alternatively you can call Ronnie on 077 2446 0000.
At the end of his weight-loss programme, Ronnie is planning a celebratory charity night to include a table quiz, auction and raffle, with the money raised from admissions, auction and raffle also earmarked for CLIC Sargent, whose Community Fundraising Manager, Fionnuala Savage, said, “This is a big commitment from Ronnie and I know that he is serious about losing as much weight as possible over the next year.
“I’d like to thank him for his support and wish him luck for the next 12 months as he sheds the pounds for CLIC Sargent.
“Every week in Northern Ireland two children and young people are diagnosed with cancer. The money that Ronnie raises will provide much needed help and support to families across the country.”
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Weather for Dromore
Thursday 23 February 2012
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