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11th April Update

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My name is Ben Kaye and I am thrice blessed, I am a gay, Jewish Londoner.  I now live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I moved here 18m ago from London where I lived my entire life - 24 years in Maida Vale and seven years in Hampstead Village. I currently live in Gastown, Vancouver's equivalent of London's East End, young vibrant and edgy in the heart of downtown. 

 

Ten years ago I weighed 450lbs (35 stone / 205kg). After taking the difficult decision to gave my stomach stapled, I lost half my body weight in 12 months.  Following my surgery and weight loss, I didn't do any exercise and was happy just being smaller. Then three years ago, in 2009, I decided to lose the rest of my weight and get 'fit'.  I started running. At the beginning one kilometer was a huge struggle for me. But, I continued. Eventually I was running five kilometers every morning at 5am; up and down the hills of Hampstead Heath where I lived. 

 

I then moved to Canada and was coerced by my colleagues in to registering for the Vancouver Sun Run (an annual 10 kilometer fun race) an annual run through the streets of Vancouver.  Once registered I was very nervous I didn't know if I would be able to complete that distance.  So I increased my early morning training, and eventually managed to run ten kilometers before the day of the Sun Run. I entered the race with the comfortable knowledge that I would be able to complete it. Crossing the finishing line at the end of the Sun Run was hugely emotional for me I was crying for the last 500m as this was such a long way from where I had come, not only in relation to the distance but from my former ‘larger than life’ self.

 

Due to my previous size I really am built for comfort and not for speed. A year ago I completed my first 10 kilometer run in 70 minutes. Now I am doing ten kilometers in approximately 48 minutes. After the Sun Run I started doing two ten kilometer runs a week on a Saturday and Sunday. One day I decided to see what would happen if I continued running. I tried, and managed a half marathon without any training.  I was elated.  At that point I contacted Ruby Fernandes, Head of Fund Raising at Nightingale House, my charity of choice and asked for a prized charity marathon space. 

 

When I asked Ruby at Nightingale House for a place in the London 2012 Marathon I had to commit to raise £2,000.  I decided to set myself a target of £5,000.  Sadly it looks like I won't make this target as I am only at £2,500 with two weeks to go. I will however persevere with my fundraising activities. People can give generously by visiting www.justgiving.com/benkaye. 

My training since my first unofficial half marathon continues.  I started doing a half Marathon every weekend and continued to increas the distance.  Last weekend I ran 33 kilometers and I'm hoping to do a 35 kilometer run this weekend,  before the marathon. I run on average a five minute kilometer.  As a person with chronic insomnia I used to run seven kilometers every morning at 5am and did two longer runs on Saturdays and Sundays  When I registered for the marathon in October I decided to give up alcohol in order to help my training and set me on a healthier path.  This has had many health benefits (as well as financial benefits) which includes the curing of my insomnia. I now have difficulties waking up even at 7am, so I now run at work every lunch time 10k which can be tough given the Vancouver rain!

 

The marathon for me is all about completion and not about the time. However having said that I would like to achieve a time of four hours, but realistically I'm looking at five hours. I'm still a big boy - 196lbs (14 stone / 89kg) and 5"11 / 180cm, so there's a lot of me to get around the course but I'm hoping the crowds and atmosphere will give me a buzz and a boost. 

 

Touch-wood (!!) I have not had any training set backs or injuries. This is somewhat of a miracle as I am extremely undisciplined, I don't stretch (before, after or during) and do nothing else that I probably should for example varying my routine etc. This marathon will be my one and only, a 'bucket list' event, I'll start stretching and stuff afterwards!!

 

More than running this marathon for me, I'm running it because I really believe in the charity I am raising money for - Nightingale House. Nightingale is a Jewish Care home in South West London, it Nightingale provides a home for life and is dedicated to providing holistic quality care for older members of the Jewish community. Physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural, religious, spiritual, social and creative needs are catered for with sensitivity on an individual basis.  They look after the infirm and elderly who are no longer able to care for themselves. Both of my beautiful and dear grandmothers spent the last days of their lives being cared for by the amazing staff at Nightingale. It isn't a home in the traditional, depressing sense it is a vibrant, warm and sunny place with beaming smiling faces all around. They work tirelessly to ensure that people can live the last days of their lives with dignity, while enjoying themselves and retaining their independence as much as possible.  For me there is no better charity to dedicate this marathon (in the true sense of the word) to.  I'm proud to be associated with such a noble and worthwhile cause and will continue to do whatever I can for them despite living 5,000 miles away. They also continue to motivate me by sending me personal emails asking how I am going and helping me with the logistics owing to my distance from London. Nightingale is like a member of my family and I love it dearly.  

 

I am extremely nervous about my upcoming ordeal and will be even more so on the day, so if anyone reading this sees me, please give me a little encouragement. If you would like to contribute to my fundraising for Nightingale please visit www.justgiving.com/benkaye. Every little helps. 

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The short version: I used to be fat, now I am not so fat.  I never used to do any exercise, now I exercise daily.  I am crazy enough to be doing a marathon for Nightingale, a very worthwhile carity.  I have always sponsored everyone else, so PLEASE, PLEASE give generously.  I have an ambitious target, but I would love to exceed it.

Thanks.

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The Long Version:

One of my life-long ambitions has always been to run a marathon.  For my whole life I have always thought that would be absolutely impossible.  Those of you that have known me for a long time will recall that I used to be over 450lbs/205kg/32st, and that since having my stomach stapled a few years ago I have tried so hard to lose weight and tone up.  In November 2009 I started running to try and get fitter, at that time 5km seemed like halfway to the moon and back.  Now I am running approximately 50k a week.  Up until last Sunday, still I thought a marathon was impossible.  But on Sunday I decided to continue running on my 10k run, and I completed a half marathon.  The next day I Contacted Ruby and asked her if I could have a place in the London Marathon for 2012.  She agreed, and now here I am...

So who is Ruby you ask?  Ruby works at Nightingale in Clapham, SW London.  Nightingale provides a home for life and is dedicated to providing holistic quality care for older members of the Jewish community. Physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural, religious, spiritual, social and creative needs are catered for with sensitivity on an individual basis.  Nightingale holds a VERY special place in my heart.  It is where my two beautiful grandmas lived the last days of their lives.  Nightingale have them so much happiness, love, warmth and a sense of being.  Don't be mistaken Nightingale is not a sad or depressing place.  It is a happy, fun wonderful place to visit, and I feel blessed that it came in to my life.  My grandmothers would have ended their days in sadness if it wouldn't have been for Nightingale.  I am also fortunate enough to have had other extended family members find a special home in Nightingale.  

As an independent charity, Nightingale relies on the generosity of the Jewish community. While some of our residents are supported by Local Authority funding, others are paying the cost of their own care – often when they cannot afford to contribute the total amount. Nightingale always makes up the deficit. They never turn people away on the grounds of finances, thus they are largely dependent on support from their friends. They are grateful to all of their volunteers and committees who plan fundraising events, take part in physical challenges and generate support in their local areas

 

 

Why does Nightingale need donations?

Nightingale is an entirely independent charity which cares for 200 older members of the Jewish community, many of whom live with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, and other disabilities.

 

Nightingale is largely reliant on the payments from Local Authorities on behalf of residents and payments directly from those residents who do not qualify for Local Authority funding. These sources of finance fall short of the cost of running the Home at the high standard that residents expect and have become accustomed.

 

The Charity receives no funding from any statutory source for capital building projects to improve and upgrade residents' facilities.

 

As residents become ever frailer so the amount of specialist nursing equipment that is needed also increases, together with the numbers of nursing staff required, Nightingale receives no direct funding to purchase and maintain such equipment.

 

Nightingale depends on the community for its support and we are very grateful to you for helping us to care.

 

To sum up, please, please sponsor generously.  I have started early because I have a huge target.  Please give generously for whatever reason.

Thanks!

Ben

 

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