Weightlifter aiming to defend title after illness

Ram Patten with head trustee of the Bowel Movement charity Jo Millard

The UK bench press champion has said he aims to defend his title next year, as he continues his recovery from bowel cancer.

Ram Patten, from Frome in Somerset, won the 2024 British Classic Bench Press Championships in March before finding out he had cancer in his intestines.

He had surgery in September and said he plans to defend his title in February 2025.

"Anybody else would think that it's stupid and I'm pushing myself too far. But I feel like I have a new lease of life," Mr Patten said.

Mr Patten, pictured with his wife Candice, said he was "glad to be alive"

The former Royal Marine, who started competitive bench pressing as a way to manage his PTSD symptoms, said that he is "glad to be alive".

"The wounds are still healing. Me being me, when I'm awake, I'm good to go. But my body is not there yet.

"As a milestone, I was able to jog up the stairs today.

"I think that's probably why I want to recover quicker because there are things I want to do.

"I hope I can now embark on a second phase of life to follow that love, faith and hope."

Mr Patten said the most "daunting" part of training for next year's championships was that his competitors would have had a year to prepare, while he will only have four months.

"On top of that, I've lost 10.5kg so that has hindered me with regards to strength.

"Practically, it's an impossible task."

Mr Patten will have less time to train for next year's championships than his competitors

'Turning awful into positive'

Mr Patten has also teamed up with the Bowel Movement charity to raise awareness.

"I can utilise my survivor's guilt by supporting this charity. I got to wake up and I have to make the most of it," Mr Patten said.

"Teaming up with the Bowel Movement is cathartic."

Jo Millard, head trustee of the charity, said it had been "so lovely connecting with Ram".

"You meet people you didn't expect to meet in your life. It's turning something really awful into something positive," she added.