Recep Karsikan, a 300 kilo (660 pound) ice-cream vendor is calling for donations to finance the stomach-stapling operation he says is necessary to keep him from eating his way to an early grave January 10, 2001. Karsikan, whose trade name in the southeastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras is "Fat Recep", says he has tried to lose weight several different ways, but now needs someone to take away his fatty foods and donations to pay for the operation.

FS/CRB