Andy sheds pounds for charity

Andy Lee (centre) working out with the help of Oldham Cancer Support Centre’s Chris Hoyle and Beverley Heap

Singer to ‘get kit off’ for calendar

OLDHAM entertainer Andy Lee is battling the bulge as he prepares to strike a risque pose for an all- male charity calendar.

Andy announced on Christmas Day it was time to call a halt to his expanding waistline.

He set himself a stiff target of a 3st weight loss in as many months, and came up with an idea to put his hard work to good use.

“Losing weight is not as easy as people think, so I thought it would be good if someone could benefit from what I was doing,” said the 41-year-old.

He struck up a partnership with Oldham Cancer Support Centre, and set himself a second target of raising £1,000 for the charity by shedding the pounds.

He then booked into the gym at Failsworth Sports College and put himself at the mercy of “Paddy and his team”, who between them are coaxing Andy to fitness with a gruelling one-and-a-half hour workout twice a week.

Andy, who lives in Moorside with his wife Rebecca and their six-year-old son, Ryan, started his challenge weighing in at 15st 9lbs.

The scales are now down to 14st 9 lbs, and he is determined to reach his target by combining healthy eating with working out.

“I wanted to lose weight and get fit, and doing it for Oldham Cancer Support Centre has made me even more determined,” he said.

“I will do it, I have my sights set on it.”

He added: “I am in the public eye because I have been singing around Oldham for 25 years, and I wanted to give something back.”

A number of local businessmen and women have pledged their support, and Andy is hoping for more sponsorship to help him bust his £1,000 target.

His approaching lithesome figure will open the doors to more fundraising opportunities, and he is currently pondering on his pose for the charity’s all-male 2011 calendar.

Fundraiser Beverley Heap said: “I don’t want to reveal any secrets, but Andy will be getting his kit off.”

The shrinking vocalist is also considering joining a group of the charity’s supporters when they tackle a 190-mile sponsored coast-to-coast trek in September.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Andy’s slimming challenge can contact Beverley on 0775-4533026.