A GP who suffered a double setback whilst in the US remains undaunted in his charity efforts.
Dr Howard Cohen had trained hard for the New York Marathon on November 4, through which he hoped to raised hundreds of pounds for a Warlingham-based charity.
But the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy meant the 26-mile run was cancelled at the eleventh hour.
And the second disappointment for the 51-year-old, a partner in Warlingham's Elizabeth House Surgery in Limpsfield Road, came a few days later.
He was due to go sky-diving at the Grand Canyon – but the hapless GP was deemed too overweight by organisers to take the plunge.
Dr Cohen, who lives in Caterham Valley, told the Mirror: "I weigh in at over 17 stone so I'm hardly the lightest and fittest.
"I was a little embarrassed to be told I was too overweight to jump. I know I must lose about 20 pounds to be light enough to jump, so perhaps this was just the spur I needed."
He still hopes to have raised at least £280 for the Lily Foundation.
The Warlingham-based charity was set up in memory of eight-month-old Lily Merritt who died from a rare cell abnormality.
He added: "I was looking forward to doing two things on my US trip but achieved neither, which was disappointing.
"But compared to what many people went through from the effects of the hurricane, it was no big deal." Dr Cohen is now turning his attention to the London Marathon.
He has a place in next April's event, raising funds for Phab – a charity which aims to integrate able-bodied and disabled people.
