RICHARD BATSON Fitness and singing filled the life of Dale Bullimore until he had a double health scare, which temporarily stopped him in his album tracks. But now the 27-year-old is poised to re-launch his music career dream at a concert helping a local charity.

RICHARD BATSON

Fitness and singing filled the life of Dale Bullimore until he had a double health scare, which temporarily stopped him in his album tracks.

But now the 27-year-old is poised to re-launch his music career dream at a concert helping a local charity.

Life was good for the young man from North Walsham as he combined his love of singing with his main day job of being a fitness instructor.

But a routine check-up because he was feeling tired last year saw him diagnosed with a rare heart condition, and then blood tests showed he had an equally uncommon bone marrow problem.

The blood platelets were so high there was a risk of clotting - which was a major risk for his fitness work and gigging schedule.

“I was leading intensive aerobic exercise classes, which was a high risk. If it had not been spotted I could have fallen down at any time,” explained Dale, who used to work in the town's Victory Pool fitness centre.

Doctors are monitoring his heart, and put him on daily tablets as well as blood-thinning aspirin to deal with the bone marrow condition.

“When I was younger I used to say I would die before I was 25 - and I nearly did. I have been really lucky, and this has given me a second chance to live again.

“Now if I want to do something I do it now and don't wait. It is a shame it takes something like this to give a lot of people a wake-up call and make them start living,” he added.

Dale aims to re-launch his musical career at an event in aid of the Big C at the Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel on Saturday March 3, when he will entertain during a buffet and disco evening.

“When I was in hospital I saw a lot of people who were much worse off than me. I wanted to help and say 'thank you',” he said.

The money raised will go to the Norwich-based Big C appeal, which helps with cancer research, family support and help with buying equipment.

Dale's singing began when he was working as a beach lifeguard and at a Cromer butcher's shop in 2001 when he was spotted by a disco and karaoke promoter who used him in a guest spot as “Dale the singing butcher.”

After a break because of the health scare he returned to the stage - in Turkey, including singing to 1,000-strong audiences in the outdoor amphitheatre of a five-star hotel, having been a sailing and windsurfing instructor during the day.

He also flew to Stuttgart in Germany to entertain at a cocktail bar on New Year's Eve, and now has a repertoire which ranges from Elvis to the Eagles, and Ricky Martin to Robbie Williams.

“People were praising my voice, so I started believing in myself more,” said Mr Bullimore, who is now taking vocal and drama lessons, and learning the guitar and keyboards to help his re-born stage career.

But he is also set to qualify as a pilates instructor and is a personal trainer, to add other strings to his bow - as well as helping at the family electrical contracting firm.

His multi-faceted business is called Braveface, because it sums up what people have been saying about the way he has been tackling his troubles.

Tickets for the March 3 event, costing £15, will be available in local shops. Contact Dale on 01692 406152 or 07748 636303 for more details.

Information about Big C is available through their office on 01603 619900 or website www.thebigcappeal.co.uk