The Business Academy, based in Old Potts Way in Shrewsbury, is a modern training and resource centre, run by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, providing state-of-the-art facilities to businesses from across the region.

Organiser Steve Owen of The Academy, says: “The Business Academy aims to help people get fit for business in every sense of the word and we hope that this new project will act as a catalyst for them to achieve their own individual fitness goals, as well as raising money for charity.

“Participants can aim to lose as little or as much weight as they wish and can nominate a charity of choice, with the two most popular choices dividing the proceeds.

“The sponsored slim is open to absolutely anybody at all who wishes to register and should be a fun way of getting in shape, while also helping worthwhile causes.”

Supporting the scheme are local vehicle specialists Furrows, and spokesman Tony Mellish added: “We are delighted to be involved with the Business Academy and brought along the new facelift Ford Fiesta to the scheme launch, which weighs around a tonne, to illustrate the target we are aiming to achieve.”