When 39 year old Paul Vickers, a construction manager at Shekinah, went to his GP in August 2011 with breathing difficulties, he feared the worst. The doctor’s diagnosis, however, was an unexpected one: he was ‘not asthmatic, just fat’.

“I’m a Yorkshire man so I love honesty and honesty is what I got. Right, I decided. I’ll show you! I started to eat the right stuff and took out gym membership straight away,” says Paul who has lived in Plymouth for 13 years and is construction manager for Shekinah, a local charity which helps regenerate lives by tackling the complex issues of homelessness, substance misuse and social exclusion amongst adults and teens in Plymouth and Torbay.

“Adopting a healthier lifestyle has totally changed my way of life and made me quite a different person. I feel a lot happier and my get up and go is back. I hadn’t done any fitness since school and now I regularly get up at 6 or 7am, whatever the weather, to go out for a ride or a run which I would never have done before” says Paul.

Going to the gym three times a week was quickly replaced by the appeal and vast expanse of the great outdoors where Paul could venture out in the fresh air whenever he felt like it to get his exercise fix. Whilst out running, the idea of competing in an organised fitness event to raise money for Shekinah and keep fit in the process was spawned.

Despite not being a strong swimmer, great runner or experienced long distance cyclist, Paul set himself the personal challenge of competing in the Sprint distance (750m open swim, 20km bike, 5k run) for the Upper Tamar Lake Triathlon Challenge, taking place near Bude on Sunday, 29th April, giving his training new focus whilst injecting some fresh motivation into the mix. With the backing of local bike company Certini, which donated £150 worth of cycling accessories and provided a bike to Paul through the Cycle to work scheme, he also has plans to compete in at least two more triathlons during the year as well as a half Iron Man event in 2013.

“'Paul is doing so well, I am sure he will hit all his goals and raise money for a worth while cause” says Director, Rob Carron.

“I’m so excited about the triathlon and am looking forward to the whole experience even though I suspect swimming in an open lake will be a lot different from the pool,” says Paul. Originally 16 ½ stone, he has already reached his target weight after losing three and a half stone in the last five months and in the build-up to the triathlon, is clocking up 25 miles running, 70 miles cycling and 2 miles swimming every week. “My aim is to raise over £1,000 for Shekinah through sponsorship and I’m now offering each of my limbs for sale to any businesses interested in the exposure!” he adds.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Paul or any of his limbs for Shekinah, would like to follow his triathlon journey or find out more about the charity he is supporting can do so in the following ways: www.shekinahmission.co.uk, paul-tri-vickers.blogspot.com, sponsor Paul on www.charitygiving.co.uk/paulvickers, via the Shekinah page on www.localgiving.com or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

All monies raised will be used by Shekinah to give the disadvantaged the skills, motivation and confidence to integrate back into the community rather than remain isolated from it through training, volunteering, social enterprise, innovation, employment opportunities, work experience placements and ‘green’ activities at Shekinah’s ‘Growing for Life’ organic farm.