The arrival of November introduced this 12 months’s Prostate United marketing campaign to an in depth, 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 12 months’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 received concerned once more this 12 months. You may as well 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 bettering 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 focus on with nearly 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 kind of individuals who must see an achievement from every thing they do. By this, I imply it’s extremely unlikely you will notice me operating across the block until there’s a cause I needed to exit!
Understanding that I’ve set myself a tricky goal to hit, and with 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 12 months it actually appears to have grow to be a terrific 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 12 months!
How essential is the Prostate Most cancers UK message in encouraging guys to concentrate on 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, nevertheless what was most upsetting about him getting the most cancers is that there was by no means any challenge along with his prostate. He received some ache in his foot which received 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, nevertheless it’s so essential to contemplate that ANY ache or points should be investigated urgently. If my Dad had identified this, I do marvel if his most cancers might need been stopped or handled sooner – it might need given him at the very least extra time.
Us males are so used to being the sturdy ones and never bothering medical doctors with something that isn’t mainly close to dying – we have to know that one thing pretty innocuous may wish additional investigation, so the publicity Prostate Most cancers UK carry is hopefully making loads of males take their well being extra significantly. They’re making an attempt 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 doable!
Which different bodily challenges will you be looking for within the coming months?
Oh blimey… nicely, my physique is fairly drained after this month, so we’ll should see what I can handle. I’m correctly entering into my biking now – I trip to and from my MAN v FAT periods on Friday nights to avoid wasting on the bus fare, in addition to a few different player-arranged 5 / 7-a-side video games throughout the week, however the cause I received 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 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 wish to get into is stuff like yoga – I’ve performed bits and items, and the stretching actually does assist. It takes a bit of persistence because of the steadiness 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 trying into that. I don’t get pleasure from operating until it’s chasing a ball or one other footballer, so strolling fits me positive. The web is stuffed with all kinds of hikes and walks and runs and what-have-you, so I’ll preserve trying if that doesn’t occur. Just a few 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 preserve this up I might completely persuaded to attempt once more subsequent 12 months! All of us did elevate 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 objectives on the programme?
It’s inconceivable 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 power and loves her soccer, and I informed myself I wanted to enhance my health if I used to be ever to a) present her find out how to play and b) sustain along 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 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 may well 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 healthier 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 taking part in 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 taking part in soccer in any respect (utilizing an previous knee damage 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 mates and, because of the 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 assist group!
So far as finish objectives, I preserve having a weight in thoughts, nevertheless it does shift now and again. 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 more durable to shed some 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 precise adjustments to make sure issues preserve getting in the precise course.
Our coach Ali is new to MAN v FAT however is actually motivating, and he understands that psychological well being can dictate meals consumption a bit, so is blissful to speak about that facet of issues as nicely. Clearly the burden loss is the large factor with MAN v FAT, however I do wish to set myself little soccer targets as nicely, and for subsequent season I wish to rating at the very least three objectives and in addition 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!