Thanks for taking a look at my page and if you make a donation thank you again. I wanted to run a half marathon this year and when I saw I could do it on behalf of Alzheimer's society I thought this was the one. There are a few reasons why.......

My Grandma (dad's mum) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when she was in her mid to late 60's and my dad was around 30 years old which is the age I am now. He said to me he remembers her napping in the chair waking up and asking him "who on earth he was? and why he was in her house?" For him this was the moment he knew he says. Now that I am a similar age that my dad was I think about how devastated I would be should I see either of my parents start having problems with their memory or showing signs of dementia. I am not sure how I would cope. 

Looking back to my teens and 20's and I am now seeing and hearing of my friends dealing with their grandparents who are acting strangely. Forgetting things, hiding household items and going off walking in the middle of the night. I had to watch my friends struggle emotionally with losing someone that wasn't actually dead. I remember being upset that there wasn't a fix or a way of stopping what was happening. 

Now today I work as a paramedic and I regularly come into contact with patients with dementia and Alzheimer's. I see patients aware of their condition and frustrated that they cant resume their "normal life". 

Families conflicted and unsure how to best care for the ones they love. Feeling like they have let them down (which the definitely haven't). Husbands and wives taking care of the other abiding by the wedding vows they took 40 if not 50 years ago. 

However, it is not all doom and gloom I have witnessed people having a "good day". They recognise relatives or tell me stories that they didn't realise they still remembered. To me these are special moments that are enjoyed by the individual and those surrounding them. Often those surrounding them will remember the stories and cherish the moments on their behalf.

By running the half marathon I want to raise awareness and support the great work done by the Alzheimer's Society. There is not yet a cure for this disease but if what I raise helps anyone suffering or comforts the families effected that'll be great.