A Blairgowrie youth worker who weighed 18 stone six months ago is taking on his first Tough Mudder endurance event to raise money for the youngsters he supports.
Roy Osborne, 32, has lost nearly four stone since December last year and now wants to take on the assault course challenge to raise money for the Strathmore Centre for Youth Development.
Roy said: “Just before Christmas I stood on the scales and found I weighed the most I had ever weighed in my life at 18 stone.
“Being a husband and father of two children both under three-years-old I committed to changing my unhealthy lifestyle in 2019.
“I wanted to lose weight and get fitter so I could be an active father for my kids.”
The determined dad signed up to Slimming World in January after seeing the difference it had made in his cousin’s life.
Roy said: “My first weigh-in saw me at 17 stone 12 pounds and I set a target weight of 14 stone.
“I began to eat healthier and was losing weight quite well.
“After a few weeks I began doing YouTube workouts and found my weight was still coming off. ”
Less than six months after making his life-altering decision Roy decided he wanted to take on the Tough Mudder challenge for charity.
He said: “I had been thinking I wanted to do something to help the amazing young people I work with with.
“I signed myself up to take on the Tough Mudder Obstacle Course at Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries – a 10 mile, 25 obstacle race.
“This is less than two months away and I have never even ran 10 kilometres never mind 10 miles.
“Many people have told me they think I’m crazy for thinking I can do this in such a short amount of time but I am determined to prove to myself that I can achieve this.”
Roy hopes to raise £1,500 for the Strathmore Centre for Youth Development.
The money will be used to support disadvantaged youngsters in Rattray and Blairgowrie and to help pay for trips so they can visit other parts of the UK and Europe.
Roy said: “It’s going to allow people to get away to places they’ve never been.
“Some have never been outside Scotland and some have never been outside the local area – so we’re hoping to run some trips.”