Skipping Sikh inspires millions
KEEP-FIT GRANDAD BECOMES YOUTUBE SENSATION
A GRANDFATHER from Hillingdon has made headlines all around the world after sharing a 20-second video of himself skipping.
The internet has catapulted the Skipping Sikh to overnight stardom, as the 73-year-old shares his passion for exercise and staying fit.
Rajinder Singh has lived in west London for almost his entire life, growing up in the area since the 1950s, before taking up jobs with British Airways at Heathrow and Sky in Hounslow.
Now retired, the grandfather-oftwo splits his time between devotion and prayer and tending to his allotment near his home in Harlington.
Despite his age, Mr Singh is capable of impressive feats and has already inspired thousands after his daughter shared a short video of him skipping online.
Soon the video was being seen everywhere from the Far East to the United States and everywhere in between, with millions watching the footage of the septuagenarian moving with the speed and agility of a man less half his age.
Within a day of his video being posted, Indian celebrities, including singer Diljit Dosanjh, shared his videos as a source of inspiration, while Shilpa Shetty, a Bollywood actress who won Big Brother in 2007, shared a video of her husband taking on the challenge.
Mr Singh even beat his daughter, Min Kaur, in a race along the allotment path.
She said Mr Singh is unaware and unphased by his newfound international stardom, but is keen to make the most of it.
The former Heathrow worker, who volunteers at the Osterley Parkrun, has already raised more than £6,000 for the NHS and now hoped to raise more than twice that amount.
“The number 13 is very special in Sikhism and we’re now hoping to more than double the donations,” Min said.
“If people could even donate one pound, it would be so helpful.”
A lifelong fitness and wellbeing fanatic, Mr Singh is also hoping that his exercising can show people the importance of keeping mobile and active at a time when we are all confined to our homes.
“We’ve had so many people tell us they’re looking for their skipping ropes or ordering them online so they can also take part and stay active,” Min added.
“He doesn’t know how many people have seen his videos and he’s not that bothered. I want him to be out there because we often forget about the elderly. He’s so humble about it. For someone who’s practically everywhere”.
However, aware of the influence the Skipping Sikh now has, Mr Singh is keen to give back to his local community.
“When the lockdown is over we want to clean up the Southall canal so that the elderly in the area can use it for exercise,” his daughter adds.
“He wants to help the communities all over stay active, whoever wants to exercise. He loves exercise and wants to start locally.
“If people want to skip, he can teach them how to, but he also wants to help them do whatever they can.”