The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Big weight loss takes Del to top of the world
Grandad Del Singh to climb Kilimanjaro after losing 11 stone in two years
A grandfather is looking forward to welcoming 2017 in on top of the world after losing more than 10 stone in two years, Del Singh, of Eastfield Road, will start the final part of the trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro as the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve - and in the first few hours of the new year he will stand at the top of Africa’s highest mountain.
Del - who has five children andfour grandchildren - now weighs 11 stone - a remarkable achievement after weighing in at a ‘morbidly obese’ 25 stone in 2014.
Del said: “I work in IT for Oracle, andit is a very sedentary job. I went for a medical atwork, andtheysaiditwasa real health issue, andIneededtolose at least eight stone.
“I had been on diets before - I had lost weight, but I was miserable doing it, and would eventually stop, and put the weight back on,
“What brought the issue home was going to a friend’s funeral - seeing someone my age in a coffin really made me think.
“I decided to look into surgery, and had a gastric sleeve - where three quarters of the stomach is lost. I had the surgery privately on October 1 in 2014.
“It was difficult at first - I can now only eat much smaller portions of food.
“I havealsostartedwalking every night, and cycling.
“My kids say it is like I am dad 2.0, because I am like a new man.
“When I started this year, I said I wantedtodoachallenge - something to really push the boundaries of whatI could do.
“Anumberofpeoplespoke aboutclimbingKilimanjaro. It is not quite climbing Everest, butit is still adifficult, high intesity climb.
“I will flyoutonBoxingDay, andgetjust belowthesummit on New Year’s Eve - and start the final climb a fewhourslater, still at night.”
Del will be raising money for Sue Ryder’s Thorpe Hall Hospiceduringtheclimb- and will betakingpartinanumber of fund raising events in the lead up to the climb - starting at the Westgate branch of Lloyds TSB on Friday.
Headded:“Having the surgery to lose the weight has given me a new lease of life. It is not for everyone, but I would encourage people who need to lose weight quickly to really have a look into it, speak with their family and consider it.
“I’ve spokentoanumberof people about this, and given them advice and tried to help. It is not somethingpeoplelike to talk about, especially men, soif I canhelponepersonthen I think it will be worth it.
“I’mhopingthisKilimanjaro challenge will bethefirst of many challenges I can do. I’m not sure what I will do next year, but we will have a look. I can’t runmarathons, butIcan walk, andit is something I will look at.”
To sponsor Del, or to read more about his journey, visit www.bariatricman.com