Former obese Padiham dad who shed the pounds to become a personal trainer takes on fitness challenge to raise vital hospice funds

"I looked at the picture and thought I am not going to live to see my children grow up," said Danny (44).

"I had always been the first to joke about my weight but seeing how obese I was in that picture was a real wake up call."

Six years later Danny has shed three-and-half-stone, and counting, and is a personal trainer inspiring others to be fit and healthy. And it was his own doctor, impressed with his determination to succeed, who suggested he would be great at helping others to achieve their goals.

Danny, who lives in Padiham, added: "I am still a work in progress but it was the best thing I ever did and if I can help others that is great."

A former accounts manager for a security distribution company, Danny studied to become a personal trainer and he now works at Colne's Puregym.

And Danny, who is dad to Ben (21) 18-year-old Taylor, Chelsea, who is 11 and 10-year-old Thomas, is using his new found fitness to raise money for East Lancashire Hospice.

He is now into day 28 of a challenge to swing a kettlebell 100 times a day. A cast iron steel ball with a handle, the kettlebell Danny is swinging weighs 8kg. So far he has raised £195 and be plans to keep going until his he has reached his £300 target.

His inspiration was his wife Sarah who is a an assistant practitioner for Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Danny said: "Sarah works on the frontline in the community and has seen Covid 19 first hand. I know how hard she and her colleagues are working and how stressful it is so I wanted to do something."

Danny chose the East Lancashire Hospice as they, like many other institutions, rely solely on public donations and fund raising events which have been disrupted by the pandemic.

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