Yarona fm joins war against obesity

MAUREEN ODUBENG
Staff Writer | Tuesday November 4, 2008 00:00

 

The Fat Boy Challenge is a programme started by Yarona fm a year ago as one of its corporate social responsibility programmes, aimed at giving back to the community.

For the 2008's leg of the challenge, the station has selected five of its personalities who will be taking part in a four-week long weight loss management programme, which started on yesterday.

The five participants of the weight- loss programme to be administered by Madam et Monsieur, are: Yarona fm station manager Dumi Lopang, sales and marketing manager Robin Chivazve, programme manager Owen Rampa, Thato 'Scar' Matlhabaphire, a renowned hip-hop artist, and also co-host of the station's morning show The Real Enchilada.

The fifth participant who happens to be the only woman is marketing executive, Oratile Jazzelle Kebakile. As explained at the launch, while the programme is branded as Fat Boy Challenge, it is not only restricted to men as the name might suggest.

While the programme raises money for charity, the station management is looking at also addressing the issue of obesity, and encouraging a healthy lifestyle to their listeners and the community at large.

Chivazve explained that the station conceived the idea of starting this programme after a passionate discussion about the alarming rate of obesity in this country.

'Yarona fm is one of the most intrusive, most influential media players in the country.

We therefore have a responsibility to educate our listeners on issues that affect them. In fact that is what we do every single day. The only difference is with the Fat Boy Challenge, we take our responsibility a step further by, for once, engaging in less talk, and more action,' Chivazve explained.

The station is committed to giving its listeners daily up-dates about developments, and testimonies from the participants on their progress on their various shows.

Sponsorship for this programme is motivational in nature, as sponsors pledge money based on the weight lost by all the participants, thus encouraging those taking part to lose as much weight as possible.

The more weight lost by each of the participants, the more money Yarona fm will be able to raise for charity.

All the money raised from this multipurpose initiative goes to charity. 'Last year we raised P10, 000 after collectively losing 21kg. This wouldn't have been possible without the valuable contribution of all our sponsors. We are looking forward to a bigger and better Fat Boy Challenge 2008. Hopefully we can raise even more money this year,' Lopang explained, with a note of appreciation to companies, which have already committed themselves to sponsoring this year's challenge.

Funds raised from last year's Fat Boy Challenge, were handed over to a representative of the Botswana Society for the Deaf.

The station up to date has been able to get sponsorship from a number of companies, including Broadhurst Motors, Apache Spur, Sole Affair, Supa Save, and Riverwalk Pharmacy.