An 80-year-old British Sikh man will run the London Marathon for the first time on April 26 after being inspired by Fauja Singh, who initially encouraged him to start walking.Baldev Singh Bains ran the marathon to raise funds for the Fauja Singh Clubhouse, which was built in Redbridge in memory of Fauja Singh and is located on the same route that Fauja Singh once ran.Fauja, the world’s oldest marathon runner, was hit and killed by a car in his hometown of Beas Pind last July at the age of 114. He took up running in his 80s and ran his first marathon at 89.Baldev knew Falla because they lived in the same London district, Redbridge, and went to the same ashram.“When Fauja improved my running, I decided I wanted to improve my health. Fauja told me to start walking, then running, and to change my diet and think positively,” Baldev said.Following Fauja’s suggestion, he first took a walk on the outskirts of Beal High School Redbridge.“At the time I was taking medication for diabetes and other conditions as well as being overweight. Now I have lost 30kg and my doctor has stopped almost all my medication.”Baldev last year hired Foggia’s coach Harmander Singh, who is also a member of the city running club Sikhs where Foggia trains, to train him. Hamand (66) also ran the London Marathon to raise funds for the clubhouse, which cost £1 million. The project received planning permission on April 1, which would have been Fauja’s 115th birthday.Baldev was born in Thana, a village in Garhshankar Tehsil in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. He studied engineering at Delhi University before moving to the UK. “I hope the way Fauja helped me inspires others,” Baldev said.
