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RTÉ RADIO 1’S THE RAY D’ARCY SHOW ANNOUNCED AS NEW OPERATION TRANSFORMATION PARTNER AS KATHRYN THOMAS AND RAY UNVEIL THE SEARCH FOR NEW LEADERS

RTÉ

 

RTÉ RADIO 1’S THE RAY D’ARCY SHOW ANNOUNCED AS NEW OPERATION TRANSFORMATION PARTNER AS KATHRYN THOMAS AND RAY UNVEIL THE SEARCH FOR NEW LEADERS

 

RTÉ is delighted to announce The Ray D’Arcy Show as the new radio partner for the ninth series of RTÉ One’s Operation Transformation. The official RTÉ Radio 1 partner announcement today coincides with the nationwide call-out to find new leaders for the 2016 series.

Kathryn Thomas said, “I just love the positivity of the show. I love everything that it stands for. I love the feeling of support – not just between the leaders themselves but from the country as a whole. I’m so proud to be involved in it – it’s amazing when you see the level of support and the Facebook messages and all the encouragement for the leaders when we go from village to village. The leaders change peoples’ lives. When they open themselves up and they open their homes up and let us in with the cameras – it takes a lot to do it but it works and it makes a difference to so many people around the country. We need to tackle obesity and we need people to apply. It’s very difficult to make that decision yourself to fill in the application form so if you have a son or daughter, a husband or wife, a mother or father who you think could be a leader please encourage them to apply. 2016 could be their year!”

Ray D’Arcy said: “I’m very excited about the radio programme’s involvement with Operation Transformation this year. We’re big fans in our house. I think it’s a very important show. It gives people who are struggling with their weight a focus and a great sense that they are not on their own. We hope that listeners jump on board and join us on RTÉ Radio 1 for eight weeks that could change your life.”

Four of last year’s five leaders joined Ray D’Arcy and Kathryn Thomas in studio and for a photocall in RTÉ. Eilish Kavanagh, Mark McArdle, Alan Mullen and Louise Ormsby gathered together to pick up where the cameras left off and to encourage potential new leaders to take that first step and download the application form. (Please find additional information at the end of this press release on the leaders and their progress)

Do you struggle with your weight? Would you like to change your relationship with food? Is your current weight holding you back from living the life you want to? Would you like 2016 to be the year you transform yourself?

If you’ve answered yes to those questions then the Operation Transformation team would love to hear from you. Operation Transformation will return to RTÉ One next year for the ninth series. Operation Transformation presenter Kathryn Thomas put out a nationwide call this afternoon on The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 to find the five new leaders for the 2016 series. These leaders need to be willing to radically change their eating and exercise habits, and be prepared to inspire listeners and viewers to follow them on their journey. By the catwalk finale in February 2015 last year’s five leaders had lost a total of 9 stone 13.5 lbs during their Operation Transformation journey.

If you think you have what it takes and want to change your life for the better log onto http://www.rte.ie/ot/ to download an application form. If you have any queries please call Brighid or Darina on 01 864 1444 or email ot@vipmg.tv

 

The ninth series of Operation Transformation will be sponsored by safefood. Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health & Nutrition with safefood said: safefood are sponsoring Operation Transformation because of the achievements of the show’s leaders and the impact this social movement has had on communities across the island which is inspirational. With Ireland’s current obesity epidemic among children and adults, the show generates important collective debate and valuable discussion about what is a serious public health issue while also offering practical solutions for viewers.”

 

Notes to Editor:

Last year’s series was broadcast twice a week on RTÉ One television with a consolidated average of 469,000 viewers. A consolidated average of 28,000 people watched it on RTÉ One +1.* The OT website had over 6.4 million page views during the eighth series. There were over 280,000 streams of Operation Transformation and Operation Transformation Extras on the RTÉ Player earlier this year. The Operation Transformation 5K run took place in the Phoenix Park and Blarney Castle this year with over 8,000 people taking part.

This November RTÉ Radio 1’s The Ray D’Arcy Show will broadcast live from Santry where a final selection of 20 applicants will gather to be assessed. The show will talk to some of the potential leaders about their personal stories; why they think they have what it takes to be a leader for Operation Transformation; and how their weight has affected their lives.

As Operation Transformation gets underway in January, The Ray D’Arcy Show will be following the leaders in the tough quests and the various stories that emerge over the eight weeks – from the outset to the finale. The show will also be closely following the various national campaigns Operation Transformation will undertake during the eight weeks.

*Consolidated data incorporates VCR, DVDR and PVR playback viewing that took place within 7 days of the original broadcast. This time-shifted viewing is added to the live data to produce consolidated viewing data. Consolidated data is available 8 days after the original transmission date. This data is the ‘TAM Gold Standard’ used by the industry to report and trade on.

For further information:

Website: www.rte.ie/ot and www.rte.ie/radio1/thejohnmurrayshow

For more information please contact: 

Rayna Connery, RTÉ Television Press and Publicity Officer, T: 01 208 3169; M: 087 9862902, rayna.connery@rte.ie

Sandra Byrne, Senior RTÉ Radio Press Officer, T: 01-208 2506, M: 087 249 3048, Sandra.byrne@rte.ie

*Photographs have been sent to national photodesks by Andres Poveda and are available on request

–Ends–

Eilish Kavanagh

 

Starting Weight:          13 st 2 lbs

Weight at end of OT: 11 st 10.5 lbs

Current Weight:           11 st 8 lbs

 

Total Weight Loss:  1st  8lbs

 

At the end of last year’s Operation Transformation, Eilish was left devastated when she was unable to complete the 5K run due to injury. She has, however, since completed her dream and was joined by fellow OT leaders for a special 5k run in her honour at home in Bunclody. Eilish’s original motivation was to reach a healthy weight for her daughter Laura’s wedding in July and she was delighted to fit into a size 12 outfit for the big day. It isn’t just Eilish’s dress size that has changed; she has a whole new outlook on life. She no longer picks at food while working in her café, but cooks healthy meals in her own kitchen at home. She’s completely cut out all the rubbish and runs two to four nights a week with husband John. John’s own transformation is equally impressive, having lost 2st 2lbs since starting Operation Transformation, he now weighs 12st 10lbs.

Eilish says: “ Operation Transformation helped us all out. The wedding was a great focus but we’re a changed family now “ .

 

Mark McArdle

 

Starting Weight:                      21 st 11.5lbs

Weight at end of OT:              19 st 8 lbs

Current Weight:                       17 st 11 lbs

 

Total Weight Loss:               4 st 0.5 lbs

 

Whilst Mark waist is getting smaller, his love of life is getting bigger! His new healthy lifestyle has led to many opportunities that just would not have been possible previously, including walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain with his wife Michelle. Mark’s five children were his main motivation and he is really enjoying sharing an active life with them. He absolutely loves running and recently completed the Dublin Half Marathon in the Phoenix Park and though ‘disappointed not to qualify for Rio’, there’s no stopping him! He is now hoping to take on the full marathon in October and is feeling very positive about the future.

Mark says: “My weight was the one thing I couldn’t beat. But Operation Transformation gave me the tools and the skills and the knowledge to go forward so I could get a handle on it. I’m a toned machine now! “

 

Louise Ormsby

 

Starting Weight:                      13 st 12.5lbs

Weight at end of OT:              12 st 10 lbs

Current Weight:                       12 st 1 lbs

 

Total Weight Loss:               1st 11.5 lbs

 

Louise is enjoying her new healthy approach to nutrition and fitness and the future is looking very bright.  While Louise’s PCOS condition made it more challenging for her to lose weight, she has continued to shed the pounds since finishing Operation Transformation. Her biggest motivation was to lose enough weight to allow her to begin fertility treatment, which she has now started and the outlook is very positive. Her fitness levels have completely transformed. She has gone from not being able to run for a bus to  recently completing the Dublin Half Marathon, where she received a huge amount of support from Operation Transformation followers. Louise is still a non-smoker and breaking her 20 year habit is her proudest achievement.

 

Louise says: “I’m just a different person to last year. Operation Transformation did that. It woke me up to what I needed to do. I just wouldn’t be this positive now if hadn’t done it.”

 

Alan Mullen

 

Starting Weight:                      26 st 8.5lb

Weight at end of OT:              24 st 6 lbs

Current Weight:                       20 st 8 lb

 

Total Weight Loss:               6 st 0.5 lbs

 

As our heaviest and youngest male leader to date, Alan’s transformation was only just beginning at the end of Operation Transformation. He has continued to make remarkable progress, having lost over 6 stone in 9 months. He has gone from someone who struggled to put on his own socks last year to now enjoying challenging training sessions in his local gym four nights a week. His new improved fitness levels are not just benefiting Alan but others too, having recently completed the ‘Walk All Over Cancer’ 212km walk from Cork to Clare for CANTEEN Ireland – something he simply would not have been able to do a year ago. Alan’s new found confidence has given him the independence to fly the nest and he is currently in the process of moving in to his own place.  He continues to play with his band Superbass, who are busier than ever. The year of the Murph continues and Alan can’t wait for whatever comes next!

 

Alan says: “OT changed me completely. I know exactly where I want to be and know that I need to keep myself from slipping. If I hadn’t done it I’d be in a graveyard.”

 

 

Veronica Horgan (Veronica couldn’t attend the presscall due to work commitments)

 

Starting Weight:                      17 st

Weight at end of OT:              15 st 2.5 lbs

Current Weight:                       13 st 4lbs
Total Weight Loss:               3 st 10 lbs

 

Veronica is continuing to enjoy her new healthier lifestyle. Despite a recent set back with an injured knee, she’s back training at her local gym. She is still surprised by how much she enjoys it and even makes plans to catch up with her friends at the gym rather than in a pub or restaurant. The biggest change for Veronica is her new found self-esteem. She has put the bullies and self doubt behind her and is living life to the full. Her career is going from strength to strength and she is about to start a course as accountancy technician. OT hasn’t just changed Veronica’s life but her whole family’s lives. While they still enjoy Mama Maria’s amazing cooking, they now stick to Aoife’s healthy portions.

 

Veronica says  “OT changed everything – my self esteem, the way I am with people, my family. Everyone’s healthier and I don’t have to worry about my family’s health now.”