Canandaigua man legally changes name to Darth Vader

I wonder if he has asthma.

The Star Wars fan, who has a 20-year-old daughter, Alexis Welch, said he chose Darth Vader for his new name because the character carries an aura of leadership. The former Marine owns a gym in Canandaigua, New York and often wears a gas mask while carrying an American flag.

Vader also battled with leukemia and a serious bone disorder since he was diagnosed in 2002.

“Darth Vader” speaks from the stage at the 2011 Scream Awards, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Welch, 43, has been donning the Sith Lord costume for years, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. A gofundme online fundraiserhas collected almost $15,000 to help with medical expenses not covered by insurance.

So far, he has competed in 45 obstacle courses in the Tough Mudder races and is aiming to reach more than 50 by next summer.

Vader watched “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” Thursday night at Cinemark Tinseltown in Gates and plans to attend a premiere in Toronto on Saturday night. “It keeps my mind off doctor’s appointments, of all that I’ve gone through, am going through and will continue to go through”.

“The goal is to find a better coach and I think we have a tremendous opportunity in Don Brown to accomplis that goal”, Harbaugh said.

Vader said he became a huge Star Wars fan when he saw “The Empire Strikes Back” as a kid.

“They had better weapons, better vehicles”, Vader told the Democrat & Chronicle.

Vader can take comfort in the fact that he is not alone in struggling to prove that his legal name was inspired by a franchise so powerful that it feels like half of Earth has already seen the new Star Wars movie.

Plus, I’m sure he gets weird looks every-time he’s carded.