Bradford slimming couple take on a huge fundraising challenge

The couple were keen on running, taking part in fundraisers for various charities including Breast Cancer Haven and Martin House which cares for babies, children and young people from West, North and East Yorkshire with life-shortening conditions, along with their families.

Based in Wetherby, Martin House also offers respite stays, support in the home, end of life care and bereavement support.

For Stacey, the charity is a cause close to her heart as her cousin, Alex, was cared for at the hospice.

He was 15 weeks old when he died nine years ago and the family have been supporting Martin House ever since.

Stacey Fox and husband Adam at the Birmingham half marathon in October 2015

So Adam and Stacey have set themselves their biggest challenge yet - running 20 marathons. TeamFox20 aims to raise £22,000 for Martin House to help contribute to its £20,000 daily running costs.

Starting in November, the couple, from Bradford, will take part in 10 marathons each, including the Manchester Marathon, the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, the Harrogate Posh Plod and the Slaithwaite Slog.

Says Stacey: “I haven’t run a marathon yet - it will be my first but I do enjoy running.”

They aim to complete their challenge in August 2020 but, as Adam explains, three years ago they couldn’t have contemplated taking on such a task.

“I couldn’t have done it three years ago. It will take a lot out of us physically and mentally but if I had not lost weight I wouldn’t have been able to do it,” says Adam.

Adam Fox before and after his weight loss journey

He explains joining his local WW group, the global wellness company, in Shelf in 2017 Adam weighed 15st 1/2lb.

With the support of Stacey and WW Coach Natalie Bellenie, he began making wiser choices guided by the WW Freestyle plan.

But it isn’t just about losing weight. “WW is not just about weight it’s about mindset as well.

“It helps you to think about things which are not just weight related - it’s about feeling good as well,” says Adam, who was so inspired through his own weight loss experience, he became one of the organisation’s few male coaches in West Yorkshire.

Adam’s introduction to WW came through supporting Stacey. The 33-year-old initially joined to lose weight for their wedding in March 2016.

Adam at the Leeds 10K

“I had come out of the military and went from an active lifestyle to a sedentary lifestyle behind a desk and I thought I’m not being like this on my wedding day,” explains the former aircraft engineer.

Stacey weighed 14 stone 10 when she joined her local group in November 2014. She achieved her goal losing three stone in time for their wedding.

Adam, 31, had always been active, playing cricket and running, but he admits when they discovered they were expecting their first child - Quinn, who was born in March 2017, he began eating for two!

“When our beautiful little girl was born it became apparent that I’d also eaten for two during our pregnancy, often opting for the naughty side of quick and easy, rather than the sensible easy choices! And I had some rather chubby cheeks and a Dad belly!” recalls Adam, who says he was the heaviest he had ever been.

Inspired by his wife’s slimming success, Adam joined WW with his goal in mind to reach 12 stone 7lbs which he achieved by February 2018.

“But then I got lower than that, not consciously, it happened,” says Adam.

“I am a lot more flexible now and I am infinitely fitter,” he says.

The couple ran their first 10K in an hour and 10 minutes and last summer Adam undertook the Leeds 10k, completing it in 45 minutes.

“I am carrying three stone less around with me,” he says.

The couple always had a healthy diet, the problem - according to Adam - was portion sizes.

Conscious he didn’t want to slip back into the routine of eating for two when Stacey was pregnant with their second child, Felix, Adam stuck to their new regime.

“It was all about portion sizes. We ate reasonably well, it was the quantity and it was little changes, brown pasta, brown rice - weighing and measuring. You need to put on what you need not what you want,” explains Adam.

Sound advice - and with the support of their WW coach, Natalie Bellenie, it worked... so much so, Adam decided to pass on the benefits to others by becoming a WW coach.

“Doing it yourself is great but helping other people do it is really great because you are helping them benefit from the benefits I am feeling now.

“Some people are already at that point and keep going to maintain, but some people are just starting off.”

Adam runs five workshops at the Guide Post Hotel, Common Road, Low Moor, on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on Saturday mornings at Gomersal public hall, Oxford Road, Gomersal.

He appreciates it can be daunting joining your first session - especially for men who are joining a predominantly female-environment.

Adam was the only man in the class when he joined WW but he soon fitted in and says more men are now involved.

Around 10 men attend his Saturday morning group in Gomersal and he says there are a handful in his other classes too.

“I think the barriers are breaking down a little bit, but I am sure there is definitely more men now,” says Adam.

“It’s a lot more accessible and a lot more flexible.”

He also sees couples joining together.

“It makes a massive difference when you are doing it together,” says Adam, who is enjoying his role as a coach and seeing the benefits it is bringing to others.

“In my time as a coach I have heard some fantastic success stories and met some wonderful people, and I hope to help the members in my workshops getting to their goals and feeling better.

“I feel privileged to have played a part in their success and then being able to share that and inspire even more people to do the same!”

And he’s made Stacey proud too....

“I am proud of him and seeing him doing something he enjoys,” she adds.

Sara Cracknell, fundraiser at Martin House, said: “Stacey and Adam have set themselves a truly marathon challenge! We are honoured that they and their family have supported us for so many years in tribute to Alex.

“Their continuing support means so much to us, as it helps us to carry on providing care to children and young people – and their families – when they need us most.

“We will be doing all we can to help Team Fox 20 reach their target of paying for a day of care, and we wish them luck in completing their marathons.”

For more information visit ww.com. To find out more about the TeamFox20 fundraiser visit facebook.com/teamfox20, justgiving.com/fundraising/teamfox20 or search Instagram.com/TeamFox20 and TeamFox20in2020 on Twitter.

To find out more about WW visit www.ww.com/uk.