year's Prison Fellowship Slimathon.

And the slimming entrants will be officially weighed in this weekend at various locations around the Island.

For the past three weeks, close to 100 people -- some participating in teams -- have been dieting, eating healthy, exercising and doing whatever it takes to shed those extra summer pounds.

The participants have collected sponsors since September 27 in order to raise money for back-to-school supplies and uniforms necessary for the children of prison inmates.

Inmates from all three prisons filled out forms which informed the Fellowship that 50 children needed to be accounted for.

Last year's reigning weight loss champion was the Minister of Information and Technology John Barritt who managed to drop some 20 pounds.

Mr. Barritt said: "It is a worthy cause because it helps the children and my health. I am happy to participate again and I will try to defend my title.'' Bermuda, Barbados, Bahamas and the Cayman Islands are the only four countries holding the fund-raiser but within the next few years Prison Fellowship Bermuda chairman Jack Harris hopes that more will join the programme.

"Next year, the Slimathon will hopefully expand to include St. Kitts, Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti, Guyana, Canada and America,'' said Mr. Harris. "In three years, we expect some 77 countries worldwide to join in.'' Tomorrow's weigh-in will take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the City Hall. On Saturday, the scales will be available at the Wellington Baptist Church hall, St. James Church hall, St. Paul's Church hall as well as City Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mr. Harris added that there would be a prize-giving ceremony for all of the Slimathon participants on November 7 at the Bermuda Industrial Union headquarters.

He said: "The prizes will include most money raised by a team, most weight lost by a team, most money raised by an individual and most weight lost by an individual.

"We are all hoping this will be another great event and that we will raise a good lot of money for the children.''