A YOUNG mum of two has shed a whopping six-and-a-half-stone to fulfil the wish of her late father.

Zoe Young, 30, of Verwood, had always struggled with her weight but her dad Alan was concerned about the impact it was having on her health.

Alan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 67 in June 2013. He died just three months later.

Zoe said: “I’d already lost my brother Alan, 18, to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome when I was just 10 so it was the second tragedy to hit the family. I became convinced I was going to die young, too. I spent hours Googling illnesses and convincing myself I had them all. My most-asked question was ‘what cancer can you get if you’re fat?’”

As she was bending down to tie her shoelaces one day, Zoe found herself gasping for breath.

She said: “I was carrying so much extra weight I couldn’t inhale. It was a real wake-up call.

“It was as if I could hear Dad’s voice in my head and realised it was time to do something.”

In February 2016, Zoe spotted an advert for Boogie Bounce class which involves exercising to music on mini trampolines.

She said: “After each class I felt utterly elated. Over the weeks I could see the weight literally melting away and muscles appearing.

“But the biggest improvement was in my mind. I discovered a newfound confidence and happiness that I hadn’t dreamed possible ever again. I no longer needed to console myself with food.”

Zoe has since gone on to become a Boogie Bounce instructor and now teaches her own classes four evenings a week.

She said: “I can’t thank Dad enough for giving me the strength and encouragement to do something about my health.

“He always said 'I just want you to be healthy inside and out’. And now I am. I just know he’d be immensely proud of me.”