Comic writer Andrew Wooding says he is on a mission from God - to give up chocolate!

Chocoholic Andrew, 35, of Undercliffe, Bradford, is about to give up his favourite food for 100 days to help raise the funds to train as a church missionary.

Andrew will begin his fast on Friday but believes the going will not be easy. He said: "I would definitely describe myself as a chocoholic. It's going to be very hard to keep off the stuff for 100 days but I'm determined to do it.

"I cycle around Bradford a lot to do school assemblies and the temptation is always going to be there to hop into a petrol station and pick up a quick snack. The temptation's going to be there every day, but I'll make it somehow."

Money raised by his fast will help pay for a three-year church training course for Andrew to become a church evangelist able to work with young people in the community.

Andrew's addiction to chocolate began when he was 16. As a youngster he was banned from eating it because he was allergic to milk. Every time dairy produce passed his lips he came out in a bright red rash.

He said: "I was allergic to milk until I was about 16 and then one day I found I didn't come out in blotches any more.

"So I treated myself to a Flake and that was it - I was hooked. I think I've tended to overcompensate ever since, definitely making up for lost time. It coincided with the time when I was doing some missionary work in the red-light district of Copenhagen and the chocolate definitely helped me through the tough times."

Andrew says his current favourites are Mint Aeros and Wispa bars, but he likes nothing better than to snuggle down with a cup of coffee and a giant Toblerone.

Before deciding to dedicate his life to the church several years ago, Andrew worked as a comic strip writer creating the adventures of famous characters such as Desperate Dan and Bananaman.

Now when he is not working as a community worker at St Clement's Church in Bradford he still enjoys writing comics in his spare time and now helps produce strips for Sunday school and Christian magazines.

And he has also written a book on his early missionary experiences in Denmark called I Wonder If Chocolate Kills Brain Cells, which has sold 15,000 copies and made the Christian best-sellers top ten for four weeks running.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Andrew should contact him (01274) 705402.

e-mail: ian.midgley@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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