Skipping Sikh to Run 1st Marathon for Charity

The Skipping Sikh is set to run his first marathon at the age of 74 in order to raise money for charity.

Rajinder Singh MBE first hit headlines in 2020 when he started posting exercise videos on social media during the coronavirus lockdown to encourage fitness and beat isolation.

He managed to raise more than £14,000 for the NHS which was under significant pressure at the time by sharing his skipping challenge clips.

Now, Mr Singh has decided that his next challenge will be the London Marathon on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

The marathon will come 20 days before his 75th birthday.

He said: “I will try my best to stop somewhere, some places and do some skipping as well.

“I’m very grateful to all the people who will be supporting.”

The Skipping Sikh will be raising money for Mencap, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities.

He has set a £5,000 target and has already raised more than £2,300.

His JustGiving page says: “I am the skipping Sikh and last year I supported the NHS in the pandemic through the skipping challenge.

“I am turning 75 this year 23rd October 2021 and have always wanted to take part in the London Marathon and this is a dream come true for me.

“This year I am going to attempt skipping and if I don’t do it, my daughter will!”

Mr Singh was awarded an MBE for all of his work in May 2021 and told Prince Charles that he would happily be able to give him skipping lessons if he wanted.

The Skipping Sikh, of London, moved to England from Punjab in the 1970s and became a Heathrow Airport driver.

He said that his father, who was a soldier, had taught him to skip when he was five years old and his daughter, Minreet Kaur, was the one who encouraged him to share his skipping videos online.

Mr Singh said:

“The turban makes it harder to skip because you have to raise [the rope] higher.”

“But my advice to old people is to just try – do whatever you can, even if it’s sitting down exercise – and don’t give up.”

Ahead of the marathon, the Skipping Sikh added:

“I will try my best to stop somewhere, some places and do some skipping as well… I’m very grateful to all the people who will be supporting.”