An 80-year-old British Sikh man will run the London Marathon for the first time on April 26, inspired by Fauja Singh who first encouraged him to take up walking.Baldev Singh Bains is running a marathon to raise money for the Fauja Singh Clubhouse, which is being built in memory of Fauja in Redbridge, on the road where Fauja used to run.Fuga, the oldest marathon runner in the world, died last July after being hit by a car in his village of Peace Bend at the age of 114. Fuga discovered running in his 80s and participated in his first marathon at the age of 89.Baldev knew Fuga because they lived in the same Redbridge district of London and went to the same gurdwara.“When Fauja improved his running ability, I decided I wanted to improve my health. Fauja told me to start walking, then running, change my diet and think positively,” Baldev said.As recommended by Fauja, he began by walking around Beal High School Redbridge.“At the time I was taking medication for diabetes and other diseases and weight gain. Now I’ve lost 30kg and my doctor has taken me off almost all of my medications.”Baldev appointed Fuga’s coach, Harmander Singh, last year to coach him, and he is also a member of the city’s Sikh Running Club, where Fuga trains. Harmander, 66, is also running the London Marathon to raise money for the club, which will cost £1 million. It was granted planning permission on 1 April, which would have been Fuga’s 115th birthday.Baldev was born in Thana, a village in Garshankar tehsil in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. He read engineering at Delhi University before moving to the UK. “The way Fuga helped me, I hope it will inspire others,” Baldev said.
