Determined Mandy losing weight for mum

May 15 2011 by Kerry Wood, Sunday Sun

DETERMINED Mandy Rutland is fulfilling her mum’s dying wish for her to lose weight – despite daily taunts from cruel yobs.

Mandy has lost 11 stone in just 15 months since her mum, Susan, begged her to try to shed the pounds before succumbing to lung cancer.

Once weighing in at almost 27 stone and embarrassed to be seen running, Mandy, 37, took to the streets of North Tyneside and Newcastle to start her new fitness regime in earnest.

But despite bravely taking on 10 miles every day and slimming down to 16 stone, she is still the target of cruel fat jibes.

However, Mandy today told how she is determined not to let the bullies get the better of her, and now runs the popular routes through Whitley Bay, Shiremoor and along the Quayside.

And she has even set her sights on a gruelling charity cycle trek in Africa.

Mandy, who lives in North Shields with partner Philip and seven-year-old son Tyler, said: “My mum died in August and everything I’m doing is in her memory.

“Her main concern was my fitness – she could see I was struggling to do simple everyday things.

“I’d walk down the hall and be out of breath, so decided to set myself a challenge and lose weight for a charity cancer cycle in Kenya.

“It takes a lot of confidence when you’re that size to go out in public and do something about it, but I did.

“Having overcome that hurdle I was surprised and disgusted by the abuse I suffered from members of the public who felt they had a right to openly judge and take the micky out of me.”