‘I couldn’t even walk up a flight of stairs’: Leighton Buzzard man taking part in London Marathon after losing 70kg in 2 years

Doug Sear, who lives in the Theedway area of the town, said he was inspired to take part in the event after going to watch a friend compete two years ago.

"The atmosphere and his achievement really inspired me and made me want to do it myself," Doug said.

"At the time, I weighed 146 kilograms, so I knew I wasn’t anywhere near being able to take that on, I couldn’t even walk up a flight of stairs.

"A couple of months later, I needed surgery to have my gall bladder removed, which meant I had to lose a few stone beforehand. That’s when things really started to change.

"I got into a routine, and over time, healthy eating and exercise became part of my everyday life. I started going to the gym, which was a huge step for me as I was really anxious about how people would perceive me.

"From there, I decided I wanted to work towards running a marathon, so I began working with a personal trainer who helped me build my fitness."

Doug recently underwent an abdominoplasty, a surgical procedure also known as a ‘tummy tuck’, which involves removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen.

A couple of months later, Doug found out he had secured a place in the London Marathon, and since then has been balancing recovery with training.

Doug, who works for the holiday resort chain Butlin’s as an Advanced Sales Manager, is raising funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital, a charity which Butlin’s supports.

He has already raised more than £3,000 and is happy with how training is going for his first marathon.

"Training is going well, although it’s been a challenge balancing recovery from surgery with running three times a week," he said.

"I’m lucky that the same friend who inspired me is running the Manchester Marathon a week before mine, so we’ve been training together."

As part of his fundraising, Doug has organised events including a charity bingo night, which raised just under £900.

It was hosted by Watford Rugby Club, which provided the venue for free, and featured more than 30 prizes donated.

Getting to the London Marathon start line is already an achievement for Doug, who reflected: "It’s honestly incredible how much my life has changed, simple things like getting on a plane comfortably or walking into a clothes shop and buying clothes. The normal day things have had a huge impact on me."

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