What is Del's Marathon Challenge?

My original marathon challenge in 2019 was to run 3 races in London namely; CRUK London Winter Run (6.5 miles) in February, Vitality Big Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in March and the Virgin Money London Marathon (26.2 miles) in April.  By the end of 2019 I had successfully completed 5 races across the UK including the Gt North Run (13.1 miles) and Gt South Run (10 miles).  I did all of the above to raise funds for Cancer Research UK, so we can help beat cancer sooner.

I have decided to extend my marathon challenge into 2020 by running; CRUK London Winter Run (6.5 miles) in February, Virgin Money London Marathon (26.2 miles) in April, Gt South Run (10 miles), and Gt Eastern Run (13.1 miles) in October.   In addition to this I am pleased to be one of the organizing committee for and participant in the first CRUK Peterborough Relay for Life (24hr) in September.  This will see me joining teams of others in running and walking around a track in Peterborough for 24hrs - cancer doesn't sleep so neither will we.  Our goal will be to raise money for vital research to help diagnose, treat and hopefully one day soon stop cancer forever.

Why do I hate cancer?

Cancer is an equal opportunities killer in that it doesn't discriminate, it affects all ages, races and religions. At some point it will affect you, if not directly as an individual then it will hurt a family member or a friend. Like me you will hate cancer as it destroys the lives of people you love and care about. You will feel so helpless as they are robbed of their health and they disintegrate so rapidly in front of you, and you can do nothing to stop it.  I lost my father Gurdial Singh Rathore and father in law Darshan Singh Bhatti to cancer, and in 2019 cancer took my good friend Darren Gentle at the young age of 47.  I have lost numerous other relatives and friends too, so this is why I hate cancer.

The link between obesity and cancer

There is no immunity from cancer for anyone, and today doctors better understand than ever before that like smoking and drinking, obesity increases the risk of certain types of cancer. Right now obesity levels in children and adults in the UK are at a record high, so we can expect an increase in cancer cases in years to come, unless.....we can better educate and inform people about the risks of obesity whilst at the same time finding more effective cancer treatments and cures.

My own journey to beat obesity and hopefully avoiding cancer

I started the fight against my own morbid obesity by losing over 10st (145lbs / 63kg) in 1 year after gastric sleeve surgery in October 2014. By reducing my weight from 25st (155kg) to 15st (90kg), I have become healthier and fitter person no longer on any medication. To help others with obesity issues I set up my not for profit website; www.bariatricman.com.  In the last 4 years I am pleased to say that through the website I have helped many people, in the main men between 30-55 years of age at risk from illness and death due to morbid obesity. Advising and mentoring them based on my own experience several have changed their lives forever.  In fact some have told me, their surgery and my help has "actually saved their life".  Since 2015 with improved health I personally have undertaken a number of physical challenges to test myself and raise funds for charity.  These physical challenges are not something I could have ever contemplated a few years ago as I spent my days sat on a couch or in a car with high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and back pain because of my morbid obesity.  For some these challenges may seem ordinary for a twenty something but for someone in his fifties who was morbidly obese for over 25 years I think you'll agree they are Herculean, and include;

* 2016 - Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa) & Mt Snowdon (Wales).

* 2017 - Climbing Scarfell Pike, Finishing Tough Mudder  (10 mile run and obstacle course), Running The Gt. Eastern Run 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles).

* 2018 - Running Loch Ness Marathon (26.2 miles), The Gt Eastern Run 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles), Brighton 10K 1/4 Marathon (6.5 miles), CRUK Winter 10K (6.5 miles).

* 2019 - Running London Marathon (26.2 miles), The Gt North Run 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles), The Gt South Run (10 miles), Vitality Big Half (13.1 miles), CRUK Winter 10K (6.5 miles).

For all of these challenges I paid out of my own pocket to participate and people generously donated thereby allowing me to raise thousands of pounds for charities including; Sue Ryder, Cancer Research UK, The Princes Trust and HEAL (Health & Education for All).  I have also undertaken smaller challenges like 10K runs  and walks, as well as bike rides for; Make A Wish Foundation, Shine, Cruse Bereavement, East Anglia Air Ambulance and MLSS (Midland Langar Seva Society).

To summarize my challenge during 2020 is to run the following races;

* 2020 -London Marathon (26.2 miles), The Gt North Run 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles), The Gt South Run (10 miles), The Gt Eastern Run (13.1 miles), The London 10K Winter Run (6.5 miles) and CRUK Relay for Life Peterborough (24 hr relay run).

Thank you for reading this and for supporting my efforts.