The Prison Fellowship of Bermuda is providing people with an incentive to shed some of those summer pounds by holding a "Slimathon'' fund-raiser.

Participants get individuals to sponsor them to lose weight over a three-week period.

The funds will then provide the children of incarcerated parents with back-to-school gear for the upcoming school year.

Prison Fellowship Bermuda chairman Jack Harris explained that the effort was especially important as children of prisoners were the "silent victims''.

"We are going to advocate a certain amount of money per family and then go shopping with them to purchase school supplies and uniforms,'' Mr. Harris explained.

The children's names were gathered after forms were filled out from inmates in all three prisons.

The Slimathon will begin on September 27 and run until October 18 with weigh-in stations at five locations around the Island.

Individuals and teams will be able to compete in certain categories and Prison Fellowship also encouraged companies to get involved.

Slimathon spokesperson Evelyn James Barnett said: "We're hoping to get a number of local celebrities on board. We're still in the early planning stages.'' Bermuda is one of the four countries holding the fund raiser. Prison Fellowship groups in Barbados, Cayman Islands, and the Bahamas are also participating.

The event was originally held ten years ago when the charity began in Bermuda.

Mr. Harris said Prison Fellowship has plans to spread to 77 countries worldwide.

"We're sending out a general community appeal for people to support us in this effort,'' Mrs. James Barnett added about the Slimathon. "It's especially worthwhile as part of a worldwide outreach.'' For more information or an entry packet with diet guidelines, call Mr. Harris at 234-0923 until next Thursday and Joy Fubler at 293-2390 after that.

Inquiries can also be faxed to 293-1327.