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 unimaginable 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 yr’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 obtained concerned once more this yr. You can even 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 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 affix up once more! This yr although, I’ve boosted up my supposed goal distance from 150km to 300km – happy to say I’ve smashed that focus 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 type of individuals who must see an achievement from all the things they do. By this, I imply it’s extremely unlikely you will note me working across the block until there’s a cause I needed to exit!
Realizing that I’ve set myself a troublesome goal to hit, and with the ability to observe my progress (and share with the world) offers me the motivation to actually push myself all through October – the humorous factor is, this yr it actually appears to have change into a terrific escape for me too.
I’m awaiting an evaluation for ADHD, and I’ve discovered that going for a cycle, particularly, has been sensible for clearing my head a bit and serving to me handle. An actual second of readability for me this yr!
How necessary is the Prostate Most cancers UK message in encouraging guys to pay attention to their well being?
It’s enormous! 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 challenge along with his prostate. He obtained some ache in his foot which obtained 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 bother with their prostate, but it surely’s so necessary 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 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 robust ones and never bothering medical doctors with something that isn’t principally close to demise – we have to know that one thing pretty innocuous may wish additional investigation, so the publicity Prostate Most cancers UK convey 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 effectively – 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 potential!
Which different bodily challenges will you be searching for within the coming months?
Oh blimey… effectively, my physique is fairly drained after this month, so we’ll should see what I can handle. I’m correctly moving into my biking now – I experience 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 in the course of the week, however the cause I obtained 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 executed bits and items, and the stretching actually does assist. It takes a bit of persistence because of the stability side, but it surely actually works effectively 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 wanting into that. I don’t take pleasure in working until it’s chasing a ball or one other footballer, so strolling fits me nice. The web is stuffed with all kinds of hikes and walks and runs and what-have-you, so I’ll hold wanting 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 so much stronger, so if I hold this up I might completely persuaded to attempt once more subsequent yr! 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 targets on the programme?
It’s unimaginable 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 advised myself I wanted to enhance my health if I used to be ever to a) present her the right way to play and b) sustain together with her, so a barely tipsy dialog in a pub with a good friend 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 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 significantly better, whereas the excessive ldl cholesterol and blood strain 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 attributable to ache in my chest after I was taking part in footy, however fortunately no ongoing points, and shedding 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 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 necessary to each my bodily and psychological wellbeing. The membership has some nice lads, I’ve made correct pals 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 everyone, everybody encouraging you to do effectively on the scales (however not on the pitch!), it’s like a help group!
So far as finish targets, I hold having a weight in thoughts, but it surely does shift every now and then. 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 reduce weight 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 proper adjustments to make sure issues hold entering into the proper route.
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 aspect of issues as effectively. Clearly the load loss is the massive factor with MAN v FAT, however I do prefer to set myself little soccer targets as effectively, and for subsequent season I wish to rating at the very least three targets and likewise save a penalty (I cut up my time on pitch and in purpose). It’s not an finish purpose, but it surely’s the following 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!