A HUSBAND who weighed close to 20 stone has shed nearly a third of his body weight, spurred on to help others by the loss of his baby.

Last year Kevin Wilson of Worcester was binging on beer, wine and pizza but a radical change in his diet and a rigorous exercise regime has left him almost unrecognisable.

Building on this momentum, the 36-year-old will take part in three epic challenges next year to raise vital funds for a miscarriage charity which provides a lifeline to others who have suffered the same ordeal.

He intends to undertake the London Landmarks Half Marathon, the London Marathon and the Ride London-Surrey 100, covering a distance of nearly 140 miles in total.

Mr Wilson and his wife, who suffered the loss in September, hope his hard work will help other couples get the support they felt was missing at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

With the assistance of Worcester News readers, his ambition is to raise £3,000 for a charity called Tommy's which funds research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and provides pregnancy health information to parents.

Mr Wilson and his wife of Blackpole, Worcester, said: "This is a charity that is very close to mine and my wife's heart but also to millions of people throughout the UK and across the world.

"Sometimes there are no words and to simply share a story just isn't that easy. So I'm doing this for all those people that have found it too difficult to share their stories. Those that didn't get the answers they needed because it's all just too 'common' or swept under the carpet as just 'bad luck.'

"Tommy's fund research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, and provide pregnancy health information to parents. They believe it is unacceptable that one in four women lose a baby during pregnancy and birth. They want every parent to have the best possible pregnancy outcomes and to take home happy, healthy babies."

The sales manager weighed nearly 19 stone 6lbs on December 30 last year but with the Carnforth Drive Slimming World Group and through a rigorous exercise regime he has dropped to 14 stone 7lbs.

His waist size has already been slashed from 40 inches to 34 inches and he has had to throw out his old clothes.

Before the dramatic change he would eat pizza and drink wine and beer but has radically changed his diet and has consumed no alcohol all year, beginning with a dry January. He feels he has more energy and his mental health has also improved.

"I have been on a journey just to get where I am today, last year I was close to 20 stone, never really ran and was very unfit.

"I started the year by wanting to be a better version of myself, joining Slimming World, eating better and not drinking.

"I introduced things through the year and in April I set a goal of running one mile every day, once I completed that I then signed up for the Worcester Half marathon in September" he said.

He has taken part in 119 runs since April, covering a distance of 427 miles, completing the Worcester City Half Marathon in September and winning the Santa Dash earlier this month, the first time he says he had ever won anything of that nature.

Mr Wilson took part in the festive fundraiser with his wife of nearly four years. His training has had to take place around his job as a sales manager for an engineering company, BIL Castors and Wheels, which involves a long daily commute to Wiltshire.

Mr Wilson has monitored his progress on the Strava GPS Cycling and Running App. He is now improving his strength and conditioning at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, helped by a personal trainer who has completed 20 marathons.

His wife has also lost two and a half stone and the couple has climbed Snowdown and Pen y Fan.

He said next year's challenges for Tommy's were a way to 'give something back to a charity that gives so much to others'.

Mr Wilson has also organised a raffle in the hope it will boost his total. The raffle will take place on quiz night at the Lyppard Grange pub in Ankerage Green, Warndon Villages at 9pm on January 12 next year.

Prizes include two day passes for a spa at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park, a signed copy of a Paige Toon book, a signed Hollyoak script (the soap had a recent storyline about a miscarriage so he contacted them) and various shop vouchers.

To sponsor him online visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kevin-wilson39