The arrival of November introduced this yr’s Prostate United marketing campaign to an in depth, with Prostate Most cancers UK elevating consciousness of their unbelievable trigger by way of 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 search out out extra about why he bought concerned once more this yr. It’s also possible to learn extra about Prostate United on Prostate Most cancers UK’s web site and donate to Rob’s fundraising right here.
Why did you determine to become involved 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 meant goal distance from 150km to 300km – happy to say I’ve smashed that concentrate on with virtually every week to go!
How a lot have you ever loved getting out for day by day train and the way a lot has it benefitted your psychological and bodily well being?
I’m a kind of individuals who must see an achievement from every part they do. By this, I imply it’s extremely unlikely you will notice me working across the block except there’s a purpose I needed to exit!
Realizing that I’ve set myself a tricky goal to hit, and having the ability to observe 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 into an important escape for me too.
I’m awaiting an evaluation for ADHD, and I’ve discovered that going for a cycle, specifically, has been good for clearing my head a bit and serving to me handle. An actual second of readability for me this yr!
How essential is the Prostate Most cancers UK message in encouraging guys to pay attention to 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, nonetheless what was most upsetting about him getting the most cancers is that there was by no means any subject 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 certain loads of males know to look out for indicators of hassle with their prostate, however it’s so essential to contemplate that ANY ache or points have to be investigated urgently. If my Dad had recognized this, I do surprise if his most cancers may need been stopped or handled sooner – it may need given him a minimum of extra time.
Us males are so used to being the robust ones and never bothering medical doctors with something that isn’t mainly close to loss of life – 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 critically. They’re making an attempt 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 doable!
Which different bodily challenges will you be looking for within the coming months?
Oh blimey… properly, my physique is fairly drained after this month, so we’ll need to see what I can handle. I’m correctly stepping into my biking now – I journey 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 in the course of the week, however the purpose I bought 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 nearly 10 miles away – however from a standing begin, I’m now capable of 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 completed bits and items, and the stretching actually does assist. It takes slightly persistence as a result of stability facet, however it actually works properly 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 trying into that. I don’t get pleasure from working except it’s chasing a ball or one other footballer, so strolling fits me tremendous. The web is filled with all types of hikes and walks and runs and what-have-you, so I’ll maintain trying if that doesn’t occur. A couple 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 quite a bit 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 reworked your life and what are your finish objectives on the programme?
It’s unattainable 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 methods to play and b) sustain together with her, so a barely tipsy dialog in a pub with a buddy 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 top 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. Dropping 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 after I needed to have an angiogram as a result 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 virtually 30 years of not enjoying soccer in any respect (utilizing an previous knee harm as my excuse), I now hate lacking any periods with MAN v FAT – it’s so essential to each my bodily and psychological wellbeing. The membership has some nice lads, I’ve made correct associates and, as a result of group 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 objectives, I maintain having a weight in thoughts, however it does shift every so often. By way of 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 tougher to drop some 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 best modifications to make sure issues maintain stepping into the best path.
Our coach Ali is new to MAN v FAT however is basically motivating, and he understands that psychological well being can dictate meals consumption a bit, so is joyful to speak about that facet 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 objectives and likewise save a penalty (I break up my time on pitch and in aim). It’s not an finish aim, however 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!
