A CHARITY fundraiser from Wallyford took to the catwalk to help the homeless after losing an amazing 12 stones in 18 months.

Jacqueline Lawson, 45, who dropped from a size 34 to 14/16, was the star of the show at a ladies’ afternoon tea and fashion show at the Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh, in aid of the Bethany Christian Trust on Sunday.

She also enlisted a group of her friends to go along to support the charity event.

Jacqueline, a mum-of-two who works full-time with insurance giants Scottish Widows in Edinburgh, uses her spare time to help the community and good causes.

She told the Courier that losing weight had been “the biggest challenge of her life”.

She explained: “Before I lost the weight I walked with two sticks for nearly three years due to arthritis in my knees.

“I now attend JB Boot Camp in Wallyford which has helped me with my fitness.”

On Saturday, Jacqueline was at Tesco in Musselburgh bag-packing to raise funds for Wallyford Children’s Gala, which she has chaired for the past six years, along with Wallyford Playgroup.

She has been instrumental in raising thousands of pounds for the two groups, holding various events such as sponsored walks, dress down days at work and hundreds of raffles.

The bag-packing raised about £1,000 for the gala.

Jacqueline said: “I’d like to thank everyone who contributed on the day and Tesco for allowing us to use the supermarket.”

A member of Wallyford School Parent Council, she helps out at the school on her day off every Friday, doing various tasks, including renovating and upgrading the playground.

She also is a member of the Wallyford Livingroom Church, a community church.

“I just love my wee village,” Jacqueline said.

Her other passion is children’s welfare, campaigning for their rights. She is hoping to foster children in the future.

Helping Bethany, which provides assistance to Edinburgh’s homeless, is also high on her agenda and she recently raised about £1,000 by sleeping rough for a night in the charity’s Big Sleep Out.

Jacqueline’s dream is to retire to her favourite country, India, where she has worked and travelled many times. “It’s the place my life changed for many reasons,” she said.

Her friend Hannah Biddulph, 35, from Cockenzie, a fundraiser with Bethany Christian Trust who also attends the Wallyford Livingroom Church, said Jacqueline had a “massive heart for charity”, adding: “She was the star at the fashion show. Everyone was blown away by her achievement.”

Jacqueline added: “It was so good to take part in the event. It was a bit nerve-racking but I enjoyed it.”