Why we are doing this:

This time last year my family lost the head of the family, my Mum's Dad, my Grandad.

Although in a lot of ways we lost him way before this. He had been suffering with dementia and Alzheimer's for as long as I can remember. My Nan cared for him 24 hours a day 7 days a week until it got too much. Nan fought so hard to care for him at home, as he was the love of her life, they were married for 63 years! In fact Grandad passed away just days after their wedding anniversary and birth of his first great grandchild. It was almost as if he waited.

When I say it got too much for her, I mean that it nearly killed her. Literally. My Nan passed out from exhaustion and went head first through her glass porch door, shards missing both her heart and jugular vein by millimeters. That's the problem with Alzheimer's it hurts everyone around you and it takes away the people you love the most.

My Grandad was the kindest, caring, patient and strongest role model my family could have ever wished for. Even when Rheumatoid Arthritis had taken it's hold he travelled around the country to support me at dance competitions, which were 10-12 hour days in noisy ballrooms and uncomfortable chairs (plus alot of fake tan and sequins). He never complained and always looked proud. That was the thing about Grandad. He was the strongest man I ever met. He suffered with all sorts of things for so long without anyone fully comprehending the extent. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 9 years ago but we believe he was suffering a long time before that, quietly.

That's why running this marathon is so important to me and my Mum, Jan. Not only does Alzheimer's take away way the ones you love, it does it slowly and cruelly and sometimes unnoticed until it's too late. We want to help other people and other families beat this horrible disease together.

Neither of us have run a marathon before, or even close to that distance so it will definitely be a challenge. We're not looking forward to the long winter training runs, 'hitting the wall' and having ALOT of blisters... But it will be amazing if we can help make a difference and do it for family.

We want to cross that line hand in hand remembering a cherished Husband, Dad, and Grandad and make him proud!

A bit about the charity:

Alzheimer's Research UK are one of the top three dementia research charities in the world and their scientists have been behind some of the most important dementia research breakthroughs of all time. Some statistics are below;

• Dementia affects over 850,000 people in the UK and numbers are increasing
• Around 38% of the UK population know a close friend or family member with dementia
• At £24 billion each year, dementia costs the UK economy more than cancer and heart disease combined 
• £20 could fund one hour of vital research
• £50 could provide access to specialist equipment for studying cells
• £120 could support complex protein analysis
• £300 could pay for a genetic test to help identify risk genes

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