MERIDEN COMPANY BOSS SHEDS POUNDS IN £1M FUNDRAISING BID

A sponsored slimathon is among the fundraising activities being launched by Tim Watts, chairman of Meriden-based recruitment agency Pertemps, who aims to raise £1m in two years for the Spinal Injuries Association.

Tim, aged 52, who weighs 17 stone, has recently started a high protein diet and aims to reach 14 stone by the end of November. He is exercising by playing squash every day with staff, who work at the company's headquarters in Main Road, Meriden.

Tim launched the fundraising appeal after he was asked by a spinal cord injured friend to become chairman of the Spinal Injuries Association's Building Appeal earlier this year. All 200 Pertemps branches across the UK, plus suppliers and clients, are being asked to sponsor Tim to lose weight.

A variety of other fundraising events are being organised to help reach the £1m target. These include dress-down Fridays for which all 2000 permanent Pertemps staff are being asked to pay £1 per week to wear casual clothes.

All money raised will go towards a new purpose-built office for the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), the national charity that supports people who have a spinal cord injury. The charity, which was set up in 1974, is currently based in Muswell Hill, north London is looking to move to central England.

The building, which will be fully accessible, will have 'state of the art' facilities for people with spinal injures and will be a model for employers. It is hoped that the new location will provide greater access to the charity for people with spinal injuries throughout the UK.

The cost of the land and building work is estimated at about £2m and the charity will be applying for European Union funding.

Tim said: "Trying to lose three stone in a few months is a pretty tough challenge, but I am determined to reach my goal. Staff, suppliers and customers are being very supportive in sponsoring me and I am confident that I will be able to raise a substantial sum. The new building is a vital part of the Spinal Injuries Association's plans for the future and as chairman of the building appeal, I am determined to make sure that its dreams become reality."

Rebecca Bohling, Events Organiser at the Spinal Injuries Association, said: "We are extremely grateful to Tim Watts for pledging to raise such a substantial amount for our new building. It is a great undertaking on his part and it is making a huge contribution to the way in which we plan to enhance the services we offer to people who have sustained a spinal cord injury.

The problems newly injured people face lead some to believe that life ends after paralysis, but we disagree. As an association founded and managed by spinal cord injured people we know that life need not stop when you are paralysed. Employment, a career, holidays, sport and social activities are all possible with the right information and support."

SIA offers information, advice and support to the approximate 40,000 spinal cord injured people living in the UK, together with their friends, family and healthcare professionals.

For more details about SIA please call 020 8444 2121.