Hello there and thank you for taking the time to visit my fundraising page!

I'm Tam, a 33 year old father of one and a secondary school Computer Science Teacher!  My story is a simple one, a fat dad trying to lose weight to have a better life for his beautiful wife and gorgeous son... simple right?  Well not so easy as it appears!

Over the years I have grown to be a 26st man, and whilst I have always tried to be a confident bubbly funny person, it can take its toll when you look in the mirror and reflections, family weddings, fitting rooms in Matalan (because the good lord knows I aint shopping in Gap or Armani any time soon!)

Anyway, this time last year, my body finally started to tell me, whoa dude, I can't carry you anymore.  I spent 6 months with Pneumonia which was diagnosed after an initial lung cancer scare and many CT Scans etc.  In August 2018, I was given a clear diagnosis that my pneumonia has cured and all was good... until a week later I was admitted to hospital with a sepsis infection, suspected blood clot and eventually a diagnosis for Cellulitis, an infection of the tissue under the skin.  Mine was of my right leg.

This came 48 hours before I was to fly out to complete my Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, with so much invested in the trip, I self discharged against medical advice and completed the first part of my pilgrimage, only to be hospitalised for a further 8 days due to the aggravation of the infection.

One completed pilgrimage later, I returned to the UK at the end of August but with a weight gain and a state of absolute despair at my weight of 26st.  For the first time, I saw myself becoming a 30st man. 

Do I live, or do I die?

It got to December 2018 where I knew something had to be done.  So I began Slimming World in February 2nd, because January clearly is for coming up with the notion of fitness resolutions and taking a month to actually join...(!)  Since then, I have lost 29.5lbs (2st 1lbs) and am enjoying life a lot more.  I am now 24st 1lb.

To motivate me further I have decided to do a summer madness of exercise.  

The miles will be done by the following activities

Morning Swim Mon to Fri: 25 laps of 25m pool (0.4 miles)

Walk Mondays and Friday lunch times: 2.1 miles each day (4.2 miles)

Afternoon Cycle 7 Days a week to Local Park and back: 6 miles

Run/Jog 7 days a week when at the Park: 1.1 mile course

Until 500km is done.

The journey will be tracked and blogged on @tamsjourney_slimmingworld (Instagram) and will be evidenced using a fitness tracker watch and app.

The aim is to raise £400 in total for British Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, Muslim Aid and Bedford Foodbank.  This page is dedicated to Cancer Research and I have set £100 for each charity on each page