<p>As you may know, I recently lost my dad, Eric, who had been suffering with Alzheimer's for over 8 years. At 68, he was too young to leave us, and definitely too young for Alzheimer's, a cruel disease with no cure currently.</p> <p>Alzheimer's research is desperately underfunded, and yet the disease represents a ticking time bomb as our population ages. There are no glamorous, plucky survivors of Alzheimer's, only sufferers facing an uncertain future, and carers working bloody hard.</p> <p>Eric is the 2nd generation of my family that I've watched this disease take over. I do know that in the 20 years between generations that treatments progressed massively, and were able to help give Dad a greater quality of life for longer. I hope that my generation will benefit from another leap forward, and that by my daughter's generation that we are looking at a cure.</p> <p>I appreciate that athlete is not a word that will leap to mind when you think of me, more likely to be cake eating couch potato. However, this is 10 miles, it's on the flat by the canal, and I have a real desire to do this, working up to one of the bigger walks next year. So I think even with my lack of activity I would hope to get through this, and raise some cash for this great cause.</p> <p>Appreciate that times are difficult for all of us on the cash front, so any donation you can make is gratefully received by the charity. Sure you know how this works with Just Giving, so it's simple, fast and secure. And please make your bit go further by Gift Aiding if you can.</p> <p>Thank you in advance for all those that your donation could go on to help.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>