Mum Cassie Jones, who just 18 months ago was fighting for her life after suffering liver and kidney failure following the birth of her son, is organising a sponsored slim.

Miss Jones, 23, of Longcroft Road, Devizes, wants to raise money for our Give us A Chance appeal in aid of Devizes Opportunity Centre.

Her son Chase, who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, attends the centre twice a week.

Miss Jones, who has set up Cassie’s Chunkies and recruited her parents and friends, hopes to raise £1,000.

She said: “I think I have been using my past ill health as an excuse for too long and really need to do something about my weight now.

“Now I have told people I am doing this I have more incentive to stick to healthy eating and it is a good way of raising money as well.”

Her parents Eileen and Brian Jones, of Longcroft Avenue, Devizes, are joining in the sponsored slim as their way of saying thank you to the centre.

She said: “They adore Chase and would do anything for him.”

Colleagues from Cross Manufacturing, Devizes, where Miss Jones, her parents and her partner Mike Topliss all work are already sponsoring the event.

Cassie’s Chunkies had their first weigh-in two weeks ago at the Moonrakers pub in Devizes and will meet every fortnight until a final weigh-in on June 30.

Chase was born two months early by emergency caesarean section weighing just 2lb 15ozs at Salisbury District Hospital after Miss Jones became very unwell. She was diagnosed with liver and kidney failure and after the birth she was taken to Kings College Hospital, London.

Her lowest point came when she contracted pneumonia and was taken to intensive care on the same day her sister Lianne got married.

She said: “I should have been her chief bridesmaid but instead I was in ICU. It took me a while to recover and I was very weak and had to have physiotherapy to be able to walk again.

“But now is the time to put it behind me and lose weight.

“I was 14st 7lbs at the first weigh in and I would really like to get down to about 11 stone.”

To sponsor Cassie go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/CassiesChunkies