Kells women 'shrink' for fashion show

Two Kells ladies got an opportunity to strut their stuff on a catwalk recently when they participated in the 'Big Shrink' fashion show in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre recently. Kells women, Deirdre Murtagh and Maria Dunne, who were among eight Kells women who lost weight this spring to raise funds for Cappagh Hospital, were invited to take part tin the show and enjoyed a makeover before the show. Maria and Deirdre set up the Kells 'Little Shrink' to help patients at Cappagh Hospital, as part of the nationwide Big Shrink Campaign. The eight Kells participants lost over 50lbs between them and added to the aim of Ireland losing a tonne in weight. Deirdre and Maria were chosen as some of the Big Shrink finalists and given makeovers by Debenhams, hitting the catwalk in Blanchardstown to show off their new looks. Deirdre runs Causey Farm outside Kells and Maria works with her. The Big Shrink campaign was run in association with Debenhams stores, Coral Leisure and Crunch Fitness to raise money for the patients in Cappagh Hospital. "Everybody looks so well and their outfits are fabulous, said Ciara Kearney, CEO of Cappagh Hospital Trust. "It's marvellous to see our Big Shinkers here strutting their stuff and celebrating their weight loss. This was a nationwide campaign and we reached our goal of helping Ireland lose a tonne. Everybody who took part should be so happy with their results and so proud of themselves, and Deirdre and Maria were so enterprising to setup their own Little Shrink and who made such a massive effort on behalf of our patients." Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital treats children with bone tumour cancer. The funds raised by the Big Shrink Campaign will provide a new T3 scanner which will allow early diagnoses of many illnesses, including bone tumour cancer. This innovative scanner will be the first in a public hospital in Ireland and will not only benefit the patients at Cappagh National Orthopaedic hospital but patients from other hospitals as well. Deirdre Murtagh explains that the Kells group got great help and support from Michele Dixon of Fresh Air Fitness, a personal trainer and fitness expert who encouraged the participants to use all kinds of enjoyable activities to stay fit and healthy, not only the usual gym routines.