Super slimmer Tori set for London marathon

Posted 21 April 2016

Harper Adams student Tori Jeffrey is set to run the London Marathon this weekend –raising money for Cancer Research UK. 

Tori will be part of the Slimming World team, after the organisation helped her to lose more than three stone and started her journey towards loving being active. 

Tori, 21, joined the Outwood Slimming World group aged 17 because she felt down and depressed about her size. Now, 3st  lighter and after maintaining her weight loss for five years, she’s set to run the 26.2 mile Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday. 

Tori is one of a team of 13 who will be representing Slimming World in the 36th annual Virgin Money London Marathon. The group, which has lost a combined total of 92st, are all raising money for Cancer Research UK to raise awareness of how keeping a healthy weight improves health, including preventing the risk of developing some types of cancer.  

Tori had been overweight for most of her childhood, and felt she was the biggest in her friendship group through school. She tried to lose weight by herself from time to time, but found nothing was effective in the long term. The final straw came when Tori broke down one night talking to her mum, aged 17. 

She says: “I will always remember being sat with my mum one night on my bed in my room, and I just broke down in floods of tears... Something for me had to change if I was to enjoy growing up.” 

Tori’s mum had had great success with Slimming World and had kept the weight off for years. Knowing it could work, Tori joined her local group in March 2011.

She says: “I was so nervous before joining but I got a fantastic warm welcome from the group.”

Tori went on to lose 3st 7lbs and has remained at her target weight throughout her time at Harper Adams University, where she’s now in her final year of the BSc (Hons) Food and Consumer Studies programme. 

Tori has now run two marathons, six half marathons and countless 10kms and 5kms. She says: “I can’t believe how far I’ve come in the past few years and all the incredible changes I’ve made to my lifestyle. I’m happier and healthier and by losing weight I’ve reduced my chances of developing a range of health problems including some types of cancer. I’ve really found a love for running… I can’t wait for the atmosphere on race day and to cross that finish line. 

Anyone who would like to sponsor the Slimming World Marathon team can do so by visiting the Just Giving page. Money raised will go towards Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research to help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. 

Thanks to Nick Brightman for the main images of Tori.