Showbiz /
104-Year-Old Fauja Singh Runs In A Ford Commercial
Fauja Singh, the 104-year-old marathon runner, appears as Ford's new ambassador for its Unlearn campaign in its newest U.K. commercial.
The campaign features dogs running after a drone-operated delivery, urging the audience to "Unlearn postmen," which is a bit harsh. But Fauja Singh's segment in the ad is very inspiring. It asks us to "Unlearn OAP," which stands for old-aged pensioner. We spot Singh's yellow turban bobbing along the bushes as we see him jog up hills and sprint in London's famously cold weather — all while wearing the OAP sign on his chest.
Fauja Singh runs for the cameras.
Photo Credit: Youtube
Photo Credit: Youtube
It's very fitting to see Singh in the campaign because he has truly redefined what it means to be an OAP. That idea of breaking down preconceptions was the campaign's main goal. Ford’s marketing manager, Richard Beard, said to Desi Blitz, “Unlearn is about casting aside preconceptions, having another think about Ford, and reappraising. It’s about not being held back by limiting beliefs.”
Singh first started running as a way to heal after he lost his wife and two children. Relocating to the United Kingdom, Singh moved in with his son and started running every day. But it was his participation in marathons that pushed him into the limelight. He broke records as one of the oldest marathon runners in the world. He was 92 when he ran in the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, where his time was 5 hours and 40 minutes.
The oldest marathon runner in the world.
Photo Credit: Youtube
Photo Credit: Youtube
Yet he's putting down his marathon shoes for now. He ran his final marathon in 2013, the Hong Kong Marathon. Singh was disheartened about retiring from running. He told The Independent that, as he got older, he liked the attention the records and campaigns gave him.
"I am hurt by the fact that I am going to retire. I do not really like the word 'retire' because I can still run and jump on a bus. It's a sense of negativity that I have never experienced before. I fear that when I stop running, people will no longer love me. At the moment, everyone loves me. I hope nobody will forget or ignore me. When you become old, you become like a child and you want the attention," he explains.
But Singh credits his positive thinking as the reason he's the campaign's ambassador. “When I went through a major trauma in my life, I had to overcome it in a positive way. I started taking exercises more seriously. I think I am an ambassador for Unlearn because of what I’ve achieved. I’ve changed people’s minds about old people so that they think old people can achieve much themselves."
Kudos to this amazing centenarian who's pushing us all to do better about our goals and breaking down preconceptions!
Main Image Photo Credit: Express
Rumnique Nannar
Author
Rumnique Nannar is a new journalist with a passion for all things pop culture, film, and art. Rumnique was born in London, with a predilection for devouring English chocolate with her Vogue, ANOKHI, and Glamour magazines in tow. She is currently in her Journalism Masters at UBC. Connect ...
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
Review: 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' Is For The Ones Who Love Love!
-
Pamela Mala Sinha's Latest Play "NEW" Breathes Fresh Life Into Our Parents' Immigrant Story
-
Dilpreet Bhattal Proved Her Mettle On CBC's "Canada's Ultimate Challenge"
-
Here's Why You Can't Miss The 12th South Asian Film Festival Of Montréal
-
The First Ever South Asian House At SXSW Made All Sorts Of History
-
Hot April 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
'Canada's Got Talent' Judge Lilly Singh Wants Us To Get Ready To Be Amazed
-
Don't Miss Out On The 10th Annual Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival
-
Oscars 2023 Highlights: How Our South Asian Stars Took Over Tinseltown
-
Hot March 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Ali Hassan Shares Comedic Life Lessons In His Memoir “Is There Bacon In Heaven?”
-
Nisha Pahuja Follows A Father's Search For Justice In Her Latest Doc "To Kill A Tiger"
-
From South India to LA, R&B Star Malavika Is Set Sizzle In 2023!
-
CBC's "Bollywed" Spotlights Chandan Fashion's Iconic Family Bridal Business
-
Hot February 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Is Mindy Kaling A Self-Hating South Asian?
-
The Harry & Meghan Drama: What Would Happen If They Were Desi?
-
Star Rakhee Morzaria Dishes On Season 2 Of CBC Sitcom “Run The Burbs”
-
Hot January 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Nandita Das Delivers A Riveting Gig-Economy Drama In ‘Zwigato’
-
Hot December 2022 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
"Four Samosas" Director Ravi Kapoor And Star Venk Potula Dish On This Heist Comedy
-
South Asian-Authored Books That Make The Best Gifts
-
Highlights From The Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival (VISAFF)
-
Hamza Haq Dishes On His Out-Of-This-World TIFF Drama “Viking”
-
Hot November 2022 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Al Mukadam Is Magnificent In The Romantic-Thriller "Nightalk"
-
Why Humayun Saeed In "The Crown" Is A Stand-Out Moment For Pakistani Representation
-
From Kamala Harris To Manish Malhotra: Celeb Diwali Parties Are Such a Vibe This Year!
-
Documentarian Vinay Shukla Tells The Sobering Story Of Modern-Day Journalism in "While We Watched"
-
Hot October 2022 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Director Shubham Yogi Discusses His Uplifting Cricket Dramedy "Kacchey Limbu" Starring Radhika Madan
-
TIFF 2022 Review: "Viking" A Profound Film That Shines Among The Stars
-
Masala Coffee: The Coolest Fusion Band You Need To Know
-
TIFF 2022: Our Preview Of The Top South Asian Films And Stars At This Year's Fest
-
Check Out These September 2022 Films From Bollywood & Beyond
-
Our Fave Moments From The International Film Festival Of South Asia (IFFSA)
-
Actor, Producer, Writer Dana Abraham Shares Why He Couldn't Pass Up "Neon Lights"
-
5 Best Beach Reads By South Asian Authors
-
Check Out These August 2022 Films From Bollywood & Beyond
-
America’s Music Man: This World Record Holder Learned To Play 107 Instruments All By Himself
-
Check Out These July 2022 Movies From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Praneet Akilla From Latest CBC Drama “Sky Med” Talks About Why This Medical Drama Is Next Level
-
This Prism Prize Nominee "Closer" Is Probably The Most Powerful Anti-Shadism Message You'll Ever See
-
"Mr. Malcolm's List" Shows Us A Different Side Of Freida Pinto
-
How Puja Mohindra Created Her Own Opportunity To Get The Hit Netflix Drama 'The Lincoln Lawyer'
-
"The Rise" Music Release Celebrate 25 years of South Asian Hip Hop
-
'Ms. Marvel' Is Breaking Down Stereotypes & Here's What You Need To Know
-
Check Out These June 2022 Movies From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Check Out Why Karan Johar's 50th Birthday Bash Turned Into An Iconic 90s Bollywood Reunion
-
We Tell You Why You Need To Check Out The Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (DFWSAFF)
-
Check Out These May 2022 Movies From Bollywood And Beyond!
