'I've lost two stone and haven't had to worry about hangovers'

A pub landlord is looking forward to celebrating the new year with half a lager shandy after spending 2015 alcohol-free to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

In January, Mark Powell, 42, landlord of The Plough, High Road, Wilmington, took on the dryathlon challenge to support the charity and to improve his health and fitness.

Mark, who has been in charge of the pub since 2007, said he was drinking up to eight pints a day before he decided to swap pints of lager for soda and lime.

He has lost several friends and family members to cancer and has raised more than £20,000 for cancer research over the years.

So far, he has raised more than £2,000 for his dryalthon challenge.

“I’ve run five marathons, jumped out of a plane and had my chest and back waxed. I thought I was drinking a bit too much so I thought I would go a whole year without a drink for my health and for charity.

“It’s made a huge difference. I’ve lost two stone and as I haven’t had to worry about hangovers I’ve fitted in more training runs, trips to the gym and spin classes. I’m hoping to put my increased fitness to good use by running a marathon next year.”

Mark, a member of the Dartford Harriers, had completed marathons in London, New York, Boston, Vienna and Rotterdam, but says quitting the drink has been a much harder feat.

“This has been harder for me than any marathon. The hardest part was to get through the first month.

“Once I’d got to that point it gradually started to become normal.

“As I run a pub, people are always offering to buy me drinks so it is hard to resist. I play in the pub’s darts and pool teams as well and my players are always drinking so it hasn’t been easy.

“It will be great to have a drink but I’ll be taking it steady and there’s no way I’m going back to my old ways.

“Although I’m nearly at the end, I’ve still got to get through Christmas Day with just a soda and lime and New Year’s Eve itself, as I won’t start until lunchtime on January 1.”

Mr Powell is encouraging people across the country to consider taking on the challenge for a month.

“You won’t know what you can achieve until you’ve tried. I feel so much better for it. It has changed my outlook and health. I feel more alert and mobilised and I think more clearly.”

To sponsor Mark, visit www.justgiving.com/Mark-Powell-dryathlete20152015 or to start your own Dryathlon challenge in January, visit www.dryathlon.org.