The arrival of November introduced this yr’s Prostate United marketing campaign to a detailed, with Prostate Most cancers UK elevating consciousness of their unbelievable trigger via the month of October.
MAN v FAT member Rob Kedge was as soon as once more within the thick of the fundraising for this yr’s marketing campaign, having been an enormous advocate of the charity lately.
We caught up with him to seek out out extra about why he bought concerned once more this yr. You can even 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 yr?
It was a no brainer for me. After elevating over £500 doing this final yr, and enhancing my well being on the similar time, I used to be prepared and primed to hitch up once more! This yr although, I’ve boosted up my supposed goal distance from 150km to 300km – happy to say I’ve smashed that focus on with virtually every week to go!
How a lot have you ever loved getting out for every 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 all the pieces they do. By this, I imply it’s extremely unlikely you will note me operating across the block until there’s a motive I needed to exit!
Figuring out that I’ve set myself a troublesome goal to hit, and having the ability to monitor my progress (and share with the world) provides me the motivation to actually push myself all through October – the humorous factor is, this yr it actually appears to have turn out to be an excellent escape for me too.
I’m awaiting an evaluation for ADHD, and I’ve discovered that going for a cycle, particularly, has been good for clearing my head a bit and serving to me handle. An actual second of readability for me this yr!
How vital is the Prostate Most cancers UK message in encouraging guys to concentrate on their well being?
It’s big! My Dad sadly died of prostate most cancers 10 years in the past so I’ve a vested curiosity, nevertheless what was most upsetting about him getting the most cancers is that there was by no means any situation together with his prostate. He bought some ache in his foot which bought progressively worse, and when checked out, it transpired he had a secondary most cancers. I’m positive loads of males know to look out for indicators of hassle with their prostate, but it surely’s so vital 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 a minimum of 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 need additional investigation, so the publicity Prostate Most cancers UK carry is hopefully making loads of males take their well being extra severely. They’re attempting to get a screening programme in place as properly – 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… properly, my physique is fairly drained after this month, so we’ll should see what I can handle. I’m correctly moving into my biking now – I trip to and from my MAN v FAT periods on Friday nights to save lots of on the bus fare, in addition to a few different player-arranged 5 / 7-a-side video games throughout the week, however the motive I bought my bike is to get to and from my day job (I’m a Probation Officer), so I feel 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 need to get into is stuff like yoga – I’ve achieved bits and items, and the stretching actually does assist. It takes a bit of persistence as a result of steadiness facet, but it surely actually works properly with the cardio from soccer!
For my subsequent charity problem, there’s discuss of a distance strolling occasion in Windsor in April, so I’m trying into that. I don’t take pleasure in operating until it’s chasing a ball or one other footballer, so strolling fits me fantastic. The web is stuffed with all types of hikes and walks and runs and what-have-you, so I’ll maintain trying 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 loads stronger, so if I maintain this up I may completely persuaded to attempt once more subsequent yr! 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 remodeled your life and what are your finish targets 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 advised myself I wanted to enhance my health if I used to be ever to a) present her how one can play and b) sustain together 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 hen out!
That was the tip of Might 2024, so I’m practically 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 superb! I’m teetering on the sting of that 20% and I’m determined to get the certificates so it might probably 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 stress have each gone away. Even my bronchial asthma is best managed! I did have a scare final October once I needed to have an angiogram as a consequence of ache in my chest once I was enjoying footy, however fortunately no ongoing points, and shedding extra weight has cleared up any issues there too.
I’m 47 now and I really feel like I’ve reclaimed my life – after virtually 30 years of not enjoying soccer in any respect (utilizing an outdated knee damage as my excuse), I now hate lacking any periods with MAN v FAT – it’s so vital to each my bodily and psychological wellbeing. The membership has some nice lads, I’ve made correct associates and, as a result of crew modifications 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 everyone, everybody encouraging you to do properly on the scales (however not on the pitch!), it’s like a assist group!
So far as finish targets, I maintain having a weight in thoughts, but it surely does shift infrequently. When it comes to kilos, I’m into double figures now which is nice to see, however I don’t need to cease going. I do know it will get more durable to shed pounds as you go on – the physique will get used to routines and I’ve hit a few plateaus already – the massive problem is making the appropriate modifications to make sure issues maintain getting in the appropriate path.
Our coach Ali is new to MAN v FAT however is de facto motivating, and he understands that psychological well being can dictate meals consumption a bit, so is comfortable to speak about that aspect of issues as properly. Clearly the load loss is the massive factor with MAN v FAT, however I do wish to set myself little soccer targets as properly, and for subsequent season I need to rating a minimum of three targets and in addition save a penalty (I break up my time on pitch and in aim). It’s not an finish aim, but it surely’s the subsequent step as I can’t shoot for toffee and penalties are actually troublesome on tiny 5-a-side pitches – I’ll see how I get on!
