They have been chosen by the Kitty Committee as the eight participants in the program, who will each be mentored by a Biggest Loser contestant and trained by a personal trainer over a period of 12 weeks, in which they will make lifestyle changes to improve their health and fitness.

The Ararat Active8 participants include Deb Slorach (to be paired with Biggest Loser contestant Katrina Pianta and personal trainer Rachel Coverdale), Lydia Jackson (Toni Stockwell and Mikaela Graham), Kerri-Lee Pitches (Rodger Turner and Marcus Cooper), Sandy Burton (Shannon Woolley and Peter Harrison), Jess Praag (Mary Reid and Kelli Holtham-Felini), Louise Grey (Jane Jantzen and Lee-Ann Moana), Narelle Smart (Sharon Basset and Lauren Armstrong) and Michael Roache (Kerry Stockwell and Chris Provis-Vincent).

They will receive two personal training sessions per week, a three month Ararat YMCA gym membership and other incentives for healthy living. Comprehensive lifestyle information will be provided by Healthy Together Grampians Goldfields.

The Kitty Committee was formed following the end of The Biggest Loser program to manage the $145,000 the Biggest Loser contestants 'earned' for Ararat while in the Biggest Loser House in Sydney, and comprises the four Biggest Loser finalists Craig Booby, Toni Stockwell, Sharon Basset and Katrina Pianta, Ararat Rural City manager community development and client services Angela Hunt and Healthy Together Grampians Goldfields manager preventative health Sharon Ruyg.

In addition to the Ararat Active8 program, the Kitty Committee has a number of projects 'on the boil' which will be announced in the near future.

The entire Ararat community is invited down to the Ararat YMCA from 9am tomorrow for the launch of the Ararat Active8 program and to join in a mass workout with the eight participants, eight Biggest Loser mentors and eight personal trainers.

"It will be an opportunity to come down and meet the participants, meet the trainers and meet the mentors," Sharon Basset said.

"Healthy Together Grampians Goldfields will be there too handing out more free Pebbles, so if you missed out, come down and get one."

Healthy Together will also be handing out information on how to live a healthy lifestyle.

The 30 entrants in the Ararat Active8 program who weren't chosen for the program will be mentored by Craig Booby and they will be receive their 'starter packs' tomorrow as well. All are welcome to the launch at 9am.

See the special feature in next Tuesday's Ararat Advertiser where all the participants in Ararat Active8 will be profiled.