Return to powerlifting after illness a 'milestone'

Ram Patten became a bench press champion in 2024

A Royal Marine turned powerlifter who underwent life-saving cancer surgery has said returning to competitions felt like a "psychological milestone".

Ram Patten, from Frome, Somerset, lifted 200kg to become a bench press champion in March 2024 before his sporting career was put on hold when he was diagnosed with cancer in his intestines, leading to an operation in September.

He returned to the gym in January and will take part in the British Classic Bench Press Championships 2025 in Cardiff on Sunday.

Mr Patten said: "A lot of things were against me, but I'm here, I'm walking, I can run and I'm looking forward."

'New lease of life'

Mr Patten, who is a magistrate, started competitive powerlifting in 2023 as a way to manage his PTSD symptoms.

After surgery, he said he initially felt self-conscious of the scars on his abdomen, but is now choosing to embrace them by incorporating pink stitches onto his gym clothing.

"It does change the way you see your body. I just thought, if I'm going to get used to it, I might as well wear it.

"It's an icebreaker for me to be able to talk about my cancer treatment and my journey and also kind of encourage [others] to face their vulnerabilities," Mr Patten said.

He added that his cancer diagnosis and treatment had been a "massive wake-up call" which has resulted in a "new lease of life".

Mr Patten hopes that sharing his experience can inspire others who have gone through difficult times.

"Every day is a good day - that's what I've learned," he said.

"It doesn't always feel like a good day necessarily... but being alive is a good opportunity to make that day better than the last."