Slimming World raises more than £20m for Cancer Research UK
A unique piece of artwork has been commissioned to celebrate Slimming World raising more than £20m for its charity partner Cancer Research UK.
Throughout the organisation’s decade-long partnership, big-hearted Slimming World members, Consultants and staff have raised money to support the charity and fund essential life-saving research through fundraising initiatives such as the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw, sponsorship of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, and the Slimming World London Marathon Team.
To celebrate and express their gratitude to Slimming World for hitting this staggering fundraising milestone, Cancer Research UK presented the organisation with a specially commissioned piece of art by artists Bitter and Twisted.
Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE, Slimming World’s founder and chair, received the unique piece at a ceremony at Slimming World’s Head Office in Alfreton, Derbyshire, attended by Slimming World colleagues and Cancer Research UK staff.
Margaret says: “We’re so proud of the generosity, hard work and tireless dedication Slimming World staff, members and Consultants have shown in raising more than £20m for Cancer Research UK – a truly incredible amount."
I’m delighted to have accepted such a thoughtful gesture from Cancer Research UK on behalf of everyone at Slimming World. Fighting cancer is a mission that’s very close to my heart, as I know it is to many people in our organisation. The artwork brilliantly reflects the efforts shown by each and every person who’s contributed to this phenomenal total and the life-changing research it funds.
The illustration, which will be displayed at Slimming World’s Head Office, depicts the fun and inventive campaigns and activities Slimming World has fundraised and supported Cancer Research UK with. These include the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw, an annual event which sees Slimming World members, Consultants and Head Office staff donate the clothes that they’ve slimmed out of to local Cancer Research UK charity shops to sell. This initiative raised more than £2 million in 2024 alone.
Philip Almond, executive director of fundraising and marketing at Cancer Research UK says:
“Huge congratulations to Slimming World for reaching this incredible fundraising milestone. We know an enormous amount of work went into getting to this point and we are hugely grateful to all their staff, members and Consultants, for their continued dedication and generosity.
“The money that they have raised together over the past decade is funding Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work, which is saving lives in the UK and on a global scale. It’s thanks to our supporters and long-standing corporate partners such as Slimming World that we are able to continue this work, helping people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”
Slimming World was founded by Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE in Derbyshire in 1969 and has become the UK and Ireland’s leading weight loss organisation with more people choosing to attend a Slimming World group each week than any other weight loss programme. We support hundreds of thousands of people, both in our groups and online, to lose weight and to adopt new habits to stay slim for life.
Over the years our founding principles haven’t changed:
- Our unique programme is based on a powerfully motivating support system called IMAGE (Individual Motivation and Group Experience) Therapy. Underpinned by a deep understanding of the psychology of people living with overweight and obesity, and incorporating the most effective sustainable behaviour change techniques, IMAGE Therapy is designed to inspire and motivate slimmers to make positive mindset changes and to develop new, healthier habits around food and activity.
- Food Optimising is our healthy eating plan, based on the liberating concept of Free Food. We encourage members to fill up on those foods that are naturally lower in energy density (calories per gram) and also highly satisfying while limiting foods that are highest in fat and sugar and are less satisfying, so they lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived and without having to weigh, measure or count everything they eat.
- Our physical activity support programme, Body Magic helps members to overcome any barriers around exercise. Members choose when to start and they set the pace, finding activities they genuinely enjoy, until regular physical activity becomes an intrinsic part of their daily routine.
At the heart of everything we do lies our passion for treating every member with genuine care, empathy and respect.
We’re proud to work with the NHS, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), The Royal College of Midwives, Diabetes UK and others to help shape the future of weight management in the UK and Ireland.
For more information about Slimming World’s approach visit slimmingworld.co.uk or slimmingworld.ie
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For the Press Office visit our newsroom or email public.relations@slimmingworld.co.uk
About Cancer Research UK
- Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information.
- Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
- Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 50 years.
- Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK wants to accelerate progress and see 3 in 4 people surviving their cancer by 2034.
- Cancer Research UK supports research into the prevention and treatment of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK is working towards a world where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
- For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.