WHAT does a Mini Cooper, a slimming club and St Rocco’s Hospice all have in common?

The weight of the iconic car has been shed by slimmers through a Weight Watchers leader’s classes all to help raise money for St Rocco’s Hospice.

Michelle Garvin came up with the plan as she celebrated 10 years of running the sessions in Great Sankey helping people lose more than 125,000 lbs and more than 1,000 people reach their target weight.

She said: “To celebrate the 10 years I decided to raise money for St Rocco's - it’s the one charity everyone has a connection to or knows someone that they have helped.

“But when one of my member's husband passed away there and she described the care there as 'a little piece of heaven on earth' I knew we had to support them.

“It takes £3 million per year to run St Rocco's so we wanted to contribute.

“Firstly I organised a party at Agave Rumbar to celebrate my anniversary but also recognise the weight loss success of my members. We gave inspiring members awards we named The Sparkle Awards. It was an amazing & uplifting night and we raised £900.

“Then we wanted to get more people involved so I set my members the challenge to lose 100 stones between them.”

It took the slimmers 10 weeks to reach the 100 stone landmark - the same weight as the sporty car - and they managed to reach the goal three weeks ahead of target.

The weight lose came at a healthy rate of one to two pounds a week and once they reached the target some of the slimmers joined Michelle in a Mini to drop of the money raised.

“I wanted to give St Rocco's £1,000 to match the 1,000 people I have got to goal but my members have exceeded my ambition and so far we stand at £1,300 with donations still coming in,” added Michelle.