Ford U.K.’s Unlearn Campaign Features Record-Breaking Runner Fauja Singh

The 104-year-old runner is seen dressed in a yellow turban and matching running jersey which sports the label OAP (Old-Age Pensioners).

Written by: Saloni Gajjar

Updated: February 9, 2016, 2:50 AM IST

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[Photo Source: YouTube/Screenshot]

Fauja Singh is known for breaking barriers, and once again, he is doing what he does best—inspiring others to follow suit. The 104-year-old runner features in the Ford U.K. commercial as part of their Unlearned campaign and is seen jogging through the park on a cold London morning.

British-Indian Singh is a record-breaking runner across the world, including the first 100-year-old to complete a marathon in Toronto. He partnered with Ford portray the preconceived notions against old people. He is seen dressed in a yellow turban and matching running jersey which sports a label that says OAP (Old-Age Pensioners).

Ford’s marketing manager Richard Beard said Unlearn is all about casting aside preconceptions. “It is about having another think about Ford and reappraising, it’s about not being held back by limited beliefs.”

Honestly, no one suits this campaign more than Singh. His last two decades have proven that he lives and breathes the policy of this advertisement. His dedication and strength are an inspiration to not just old people or South Asians globally, but to everyone who needs a push and wants to live positively.

In the making video, Singh credits his positive thinking, which aligns well with Unlearn. “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,” he said.

Singh moved to London after he lost his wife and two children. Not wanting to spend time wallowing in his misery, he looked at exercise and fitness to build himself. He began running. The irony is, as a child he had thin and lanky legs and was unable to walk until the age of 5. As an adolescent, he was an amateur runner but didn’t do anything about it. The loss of his family enlivened his determination and he started practicing and participating in marathons in various cities like New York City, London, Glasgow, and Toronto with his final run in the Hong Kong marathon in 2013.