HAVING NOTED a few too many extra pounds gained over the Christmas period, Robert Doyle has come up with the perfect motivation to shed some of that excess weight.

He wants to rid himself of 20 pounds over an eight-week period and requests that members of the public sponsor him during his weight-loss mission. All the money raised will then go to the Wicklow RNLI Fundraising Committee.

Over the past two years, Robert has noticed the weight creeping up on him and after tentatively placing himself on the weighing scales after Christmas overindulgences he finally decided 'Enough is Enough'.

'I had a bit of a motorbike accident and didn't really carry out any exercise, so I began to put on weight. I needed something to really motivate me to lose the weight so I decided on a sponsored 'slimin'.

Having served as a RNLI volunteer member for eight years a number of years ago Robert immediately felt they would be the ideal motivating factor to ensure some of those pounds disappeared.

'I know I mightn't be able to motivate myself to lose weight but once I know it's for the RNLI that's motivation enough. I definitely don't want to come back and say I have put on weight,' laughs Robert.

He plans to diet for eight weeks, up to Good Friday, and his aim is to lose 20 pounds.

'I want to cut down on rubbish, especially deserts, and start a soft exercise programme. Just eating sensibly and cutting out things I don't really need.'

Sponsorship forms are available from any RNLI Fundraising Committee member or from Halpin's Bridge Cafe. The committee is always on the lookout for any new blood so any potential new members would be warmly welcomed.

So please weigh in behind Robert as he faces a daunting challenge of losing 20 pounds in four weeks.

- Myles BUCHANAN