A SUPER slimmer who is half the man he used to be will run the London Marathon tomorrow.

Matt Briggs, 32, of Strensall, once tipped the scales at 31st, but shed more than 17st in two years after he saw an unflattering photo of himself on Facebook.

He is now hoping to complete his first 26-mile marathon alongside more than 35,000 runners in the capital.

Matt, 30, started his own slimming group to help others lose weight after he shrunk from a 56ins waist to a 32ins waist, and after weighing in at 13st 10Ib was named Slimming World’s Greatest Loser in April 2012.

He said: “Three years ago if someone had told me I’d lose 17st and be training to run the London Marathon I’d have thought they were mad, but my life is completely different now.

“I feel like I missed out on so much when I was bigger and I’m determined to grab every opportunity with both hands and try new things.

“My friends call me the ‘Duracell Bunny’ now because I’m always on the go.”

He said he turned to comfort food after his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was 15. She died two years later.

He began to cut down on takeaways and fizzy drinks in January 2010, after seeing the photo his father had taken of him on Christmas Day 2009.

He is now one of five people representing Slimming World at the Virgin London Marathon, raising money for Cancer Research UK.

He said: “Now I’ve cycled 50km for charity, climbed Ben Nevis and taken part in lots of 10km runs and half-marathons. The London Marathon seemed like the next logical challenge so when I heard that Slimming World was looking for people to join its team, I jumped at the chance. I’m going to feel so proud when I cross the finish line.”

To sponsor Matt or the team go to justgiving.com/mattbriggsslimmingworldboy

• If you are running the London Marathon email newsdesk@thepress.co.uk to tell us how you get on.


Steve runs for Ruby

THE father of an eight-year-old York girl who has been left blind by a rare brain tumour is preparing to run in the London Marathon tomorrow to raise funds for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Chef Steve Holding said there had been an “amazing response” since The Press last month reported his pride in his daughter Ruby, a pupil at Scarcroft Primary School, who had undergone gruelling rounds of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He thanked staff at his café, the Pig & Pastry in Bishopthorpe Road, who worked for free last Sunday when the café opened specially and all the takings – £2,300 – went to the charity.