Good causes were the winners as pounds were lost at a Furness bingo venue

Slimathon by staff aimed to raise hundreds for Furness General Hospital and St Mary's Hospice as the sponsorship pledges poured in

BINGO fans hope to cross off the numbers and gain a few pounds during an evening of entertainment but staff at one Furness venue wanted to lose pounds in a good cause.

The Mail, on Thursday, August 1 in 2002, noted: "Fifteen workers from a Barrow bingo club are battling the bulge to raise money for charity.

"Instead of winning pounds, the staff from the Top Ten Bingo Club in Hollywood Park, are determined to lose them and have pledged to shed a collective 100lbs by the end of October.

"Already during the first two weeks of their sponsored slimathon, the team has lost 61 lb and raised almost £400.

"They are hoping to raise as much money as possible and the company has promised to match £1 for every pound lost.

"All proceeds raised from the slimathon will be split between the children's ward at Furness General Hospital and St Mary's Hospice in Ulverston."

Club manager Paul Holland said: "Quite a few of us thought we could do with losing a few pounds so we decided there should also be some winners.

"The plan is to get our customers to sponsor us so we can raise funds to give local charities a Christmas boost.

"Each of us goes for a weekly weigh-in and has to bring back the print-out so we can record progress on a big chart in the club foyer.

"Everyone managed to lose some weight in the first week but the second week proved a bit more difficult - but we are determined."

Next week sees the return of regular bingo nights to raise funds for the charity which supports the work of the Coronation Hall at Ulverston.

The Tuesday sessions of seven games start at the hall from 8pm.

The Mail, on Friday, May 17 in 2002, The Mail noted that Lorraine Kendall was celebrating 25 years of working in bingo clubs.

She was the treasurer at the Top Ten Bingo Club at Hollywood Park and had started her career at the old Palace Bingo, in Duke Street, Barrow, on £8 per week.

She said: “I love meeting people and socialising with them.

“People come here to meet friends and have a good night out – winning is a bonus.

“Things have changed a lot over the past 25 years and it’s definitely become and even more friendly environment to work in.”