An 80-year-old British Sikh man is running the London Marathon for the first time on April 26, inspired by Fauja Singh who initially encouraged him to take up walking.Baldev Singh Bains is running the marathon to raise funds for the Fauja Singh Club House being built in Fauja’s memory in Redbridge, on the path on which Fauja ran.Fauja, the world’s oldest marathon runner, died last July at the age of 114 after being hit by a car in his native village Beas Pind. He started running at the age of 80 and ran his first marathon at the age of 89.Baldev knew Fauja because they lived in the same area of ​​London, Redbridge, and attended the same gurudwara.Baldev said, “When Fauza improved his running, I decided that I wanted to improve my health. Fauza told me to start walking first and then running and to change my diet and think positive.”Following Fauja’s recommendation, he began walking around the perimeter of Beale High School, Redbridge.“At that time I was taking medication for diabetes and other conditions and being overweight. Now I have lost 30 kg and my doctor has now taken off almost all my medications.”Baldev hired Fauja’s coach Harmandar Singh last year to train him and is also a member of the Sikhs in the City Running Club, where Fauja trained. Harmandar, 66, is also running in the London Marathon to raise funds for the clubhouse, which will cost £1 million. It was granted planning permission on 1 April, which would have been Fauja’s 115th birthday.Baldev was born in Thana, a village in Garhshankar tehsil of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. Before moving to the UK, he studied engineering at Delhi University. Baldev said, “The way Fauja helped me, I hope it will inspire others.”
