Twelve taxi drivers from Galway Taxis are taking part in an eight week programme to shed weight and raise vital funds for a local cancer charity.
The 11 men and one woman are participants in RTE Television’s Operation Transformation initiative hosted by broadcaster Gerry Ryan. It will be shown in eight hourly programmes every Wednesday until March. The first one hour show will air on Tuesday January 13.
A spokesperson for Galway Taxis says Operation Transformation is an opportunity for it to do a “good deed” in conjunction with the Cancer Care West charity.
The taxi company is seeking sponsorship for its 12 drivers and is appealing to businesses and the public to dig deep into their pockets.
“We are looking for businesses to sponsor each of our drivers for a sum of money for every pound they lose during the course of the show. Every penny collected will go to Cancer Care West. We will be running a local media campaign throughout the period of the show highlighting the sponsors and looking for public support for our team and indeed finding a winner on our team.
“There will also be a group of politicians and a group of housewives from Meath involved in the show. So, we will be pushing very hard for a Galway victory.”
The first group weigh-in will take place tomorrow (Friday ) - the venue was not confirmed at the time of going to press.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the taxi drivers should contact Ted Murphy of Galway Taxis at (087 ) 6750897, Sharon Fitzpatrick of Cancer Care West at (087 ) 9120853 or Gerry Corbett of Galway Taxis at (086 ) 8284310.
