A Burnham-On-Sea man who has lost an incredible 15 stones in 15 months says he has been given a total new lease of life and is planning to climb the highest mountain in Africa.
Keith Mitchell of Winchester Road has twice won a National Slimathon competition in recognition of his efforts.
And he is now planning a number of fundraising walks, including a trek up Kilimanjaro in October next year.
He told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “Fifteen months ago, when I was 33 stone, I embarked on a weight loss program to reduce my weight dramatically. Over the last 15 months I have dropped an incredible 15 stone.”
“I am now at a weight that I have not been since leaving school. I eat a healthy diet, and I am currently 18 stone. The big thing for me is that by losing 15 stone I now have a total new lease of life.”
“I have taken up walking further than I had ever thought I could do.”
“I have already tackled the Brecon Horseshoe and more recently Snowdon and have decided to help the disability charity SCOPE by raising money for them over the next year.”
“I have set a personal target of £3,500 and to do this I am going to walk from Minehead to Bude – a distance of 125 miles in six days next March.”
“In June I will also be tackling 13 fells in six days in the Lake District. All this walking will be training for my big challenge – climbing Kilimanjaro in October next year, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.”
“I am taking this challenge very seriously and don’t want to let the charity down. I know I will have to be very fit.”
More details about Keith’s fundraising work, and to help, see his web page here.
Pictured above is Keith before and after his weight loss programme and (above) Mount Kilimanjaro, who he hopes to climb next year
