A hospice charity is on the lookout for someone hoping to be crowned Biggest Loser of 2015 - weightwise, that is.

Rennie Grove Hospice Care is once more organising a weight loss contest - both to help people keep up their New Year resolutions and to raise cash for the charity, which provides round-the-clock care in their own home for people suffering from life-limiting illnesses.

The Biggest Loser is an 18-week health and well-being programme, starting this month. 

The chosen 30 people will have the opportunity to transform their lifestyles with access to gym facilities, exercise classes, personal trainers and nutritional advice, in return for raising sponsorship to support Rennie Grove and the services it provides.

Last year, Wendy Smith, of High Wycombe, took the Biggest Loser crown, dropping a staggering 52lbs in total and raising nearly £600 to help the charity in the process.

She said: “The support from the team at Rennie Grove was a great help to us in our fundraising. They came along to our group sessions every week and had great advice for things that we could do to help us reach our fundraising target.

“Knowing that every pound you lose is going to help people in need is a great motivator and I feel really pleased that my achievement which is so personal is also doing good for other people. If you’re thinking of joining in with the scheme next year (2015), I’d definitely recommend it.”

Included in the Biggest Loser programme is:

• Free gym membership for 18 weeks, access to personal trainers and dedicated Rennie Grove Biggest Loser exercise classes at Places for People Leisure - Wycombe Sports Centre in High Wycombe

• Regular weigh-ins at the gyms and monthly BMI calculations at the charity's Tring office

• A nutritional programme from Kim Crundall at Balance Nutrition

• Support from the Rennie Grove team throughout the programme

• A celebration event at the end of the 18 weeks.

All participants pledge to raise at least £500 to help fund care for local patients, and they will be given advice and support to do this. The overall highest fundraiser will win a spa day at Verulamium Spa, St Albans.

Application forms are available to download from the charity’s website at www.renniegrove.org/biggestloser or by calling 01442 820740. Completed applications should be received by the closing date of January 12.

For a full list of Rennie Grove's upcoming events, click here