The arrival of November introduced this 12 months’s Prostate United marketing campaign to a detailed, with Prostate Most cancers UK elevating consciousness of their unbelievable trigger by the month of October.
MAN v FAT member Rob Kedge was as soon as once more within the thick of the fundraising for this 12 months’s marketing campaign, having been an enormous advocate of the charity in recent times.
We caught up with him to seek out out extra about why he obtained concerned once more this 12 months. You can too learn extra about Prostate United on Prostate Most cancers UK’s web site and donate to Rob’s fundraising right here.
Why did you resolve to get entangled in Prostate United once more this 12 months?
It was a no brainer for me. After elevating over £500 doing this final 12 months, and enhancing my well being on the similar time, I used to be prepared and primed to affix up once more! This 12 months although, I’ve boosted up my supposed goal distance from 150km to 300km – happy to say I’ve smashed that concentrate on with nearly every week to go!
How a lot have you ever loved getting out for each day train and the way a lot has it benefitted your psychological and bodily well being?
I’m a type of individuals who must see an achievement from every little thing they do. By this, I imply it’s extremely unlikely you will notice me working across the block except there’s a cause I needed to exit!
Understanding that I’ve set myself a troublesome goal to hit, and with the ability to observe my progress (and share with the world) offers me the motivation to actually push myself all through October – the humorous factor is, this 12 months it actually appears to have turn into a fantastic escape for me too.
I’m awaiting an evaluation for ADHD, and I’ve discovered that going for a cycle, specifically, has been sensible for clearing my head a bit and serving to me handle. An actual second of readability for me this 12 months!
How necessary is the Prostate Most cancers UK message in encouraging guys to pay attention to their well being?
It’s large! My Dad sadly died of prostate most cancers 10 years in the past so I’ve a vested curiosity, nonetheless what was most upsetting about him getting the most cancers is that there was by no means any problem together with his prostate. He obtained some ache in his foot which obtained progressively worse, and when checked out, it transpired he had a secondary most cancers. I’m certain loads of males know to look out for indicators of hassle with their prostate, nevertheless it’s so necessary to contemplate that ANY ache or points should be investigated urgently. If my Dad had identified this, I do surprise if his most cancers might need been stopped or handled sooner – it might need given him at the least extra time.
Us males are so used to being the sturdy ones and never bothering docs with something that isn’t principally close to demise – we have to know that one thing pretty innocuous may wish additional investigation, so the publicity Prostate Most cancers UK deliver is hopefully making loads of males take their well being extra severely. They’re attempting to get a screening programme in place as nicely – do you know prostate most cancers is the one most cancers within the UK which doesn’t have one at a sure age? That must be modified as quickly as attainable!
Which different bodily challenges will you be searching for within the coming months?
Oh blimey… nicely, my physique is fairly drained after this month, so we’ll must see what I can handle. I’m correctly stepping into my biking now – I experience to and from my MAN v FAT classes on Friday nights to avoid wasting on the bus fare, in addition to a few different player-arranged 5 / 7-a-side video games through the week, however the cause I obtained my bike is to get to and from my day job (I’m a Probation Officer), so I believe maybe I have to look into doing that. It’s all about confidence and stamina – my workplace is sort of 10 miles away – however from a standing begin, I’m now in a position to do round 7 or 8 miles in a single go, so I’m getting there.
The opposite factor I actually wish to get into is stuff like yoga – I’ve carried out bits and items, and the stretching actually does assist. It takes just a little endurance as a result of stability side, nevertheless it actually works nicely with the cardio from soccer!
For my subsequent charity problem, there’s speak of a distance strolling occasion in Windsor in April, so I’m wanting into that. I don’t get pleasure from working except it’s chasing a ball or one other footballer, so strolling fits me advantageous. The web is stuffed with all kinds of hikes and walks and runs and what-have-you, so I’ll maintain wanting if that doesn’t occur. A number of of us MAN v FAT guys did Mount Snowdon in August, additionally for Prostate Most cancers UK, however I sadly had a panic assault very early on and couldn’t handle it… Two months later I really feel lots stronger, so if I maintain this up I may completely persuaded to attempt once more subsequent 12 months! All of us did increase loads of money for the charity although.
You’re approaching 20% weight reduction with MAN v FAT – how a lot has it reworked your life and what are your finish objectives on the programme?
It’s unimaginable to overstate the distinction coming to Sunbury MAN v FAT has made to my life. I’ve an 11-year-old daughter who’s a bundle of vitality and loves her soccer, and I instructed myself I wanted to enhance my health if I used to be ever to a) present her the way to play and b) sustain along with her, so a barely tipsy dialog in a pub with a good friend led to me signing up. I actually attended my first session every week later – no queueing to get on board meant no time to rooster out!
That was the tip of Could 2024, so I’m almost 18 months in. I’ve no concept how a lot I’ve misplaced precisely, however I do know I’m down two garments sizes, which is simply wonderful! I’m teetering on the sting of that 20% and I’m determined to get the certificates so it could go on my wall together with the others. Shedding this weight has helped so a lot of my well being issues – my knee arthritis is a lot better, whereas the excessive ldl cholesterol and blood strain have each gone away. Even my bronchial asthma is best managed! I did have a scare final October after I needed to have an angiogram on account of ache in my chest after I was enjoying footy, however fortunately no ongoing points, and dropping extra weight has cleared up any issues there too.
I’m 47 now and I really feel like I’ve reclaimed my life – after nearly 30 years of not enjoying soccer in any respect (utilizing an previous knee harm as my excuse), I now hate lacking any classes with MAN v FAT – it’s so necessary to each my bodily and psychological wellbeing. The membership has some nice lads, I’ve made correct associates and, as a result of workforce adjustments each 3 seasons, it’s not restricted to half a dozen teammates both. There’s one thing actually soothing about strolling in and saying hello to all people, everybody encouraging you to do nicely on the scales (however not on the pitch!), it’s like a help group!
So far as finish objectives, I maintain having a weight in thoughts, nevertheless it does shift infrequently. By way of kilos, I’m into double figures now which is nice to see, however I don’t wish to cease going. I do know it will get tougher to drop pounds as you go on – the physique will get used to routines and I’ve hit a few plateaus already – the large problem is making the proper adjustments to make sure issues maintain moving into the proper route.
Our coach Ali is new to MAN v FAT however is admittedly motivating, and he understands that psychological well being can dictate meals consumption a bit, so is glad to speak about that aspect of issues as nicely. Clearly the load loss is the large factor with MAN v FAT, however I do prefer to set myself little soccer targets as nicely, and for subsequent season I wish to rating at the least three objectives and likewise save a penalty (I cut up my time on pitch and in purpose). It’s not an finish purpose, nevertheless it’s the subsequent step as I can’t shoot for toffee and penalties are actually tough on tiny 5-a-side pitches – I’ll see how I get on!
