Firstly, thank you for visiting my JustGiving page!

To confirm that I am running in the 2022 London Marathon, unfortunately I couldn't update this page to change the date of the event and have had to create a new page.  This will carry over your kind donations and "should" update my progress to date.  Thanks for your patience, Michael.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/michael-fletcher1963

As you may be aware the running of this year’s  London Marathon has has been moved to  October 3rd.  As I can’t make that event (my niece is getting married the day before) so therefore I have been awarded a place for October '22.  I am determined to complete this challenge for my parents, Alzheimers Society and myself.

This year I’m training to run in the 2022 London Marathon (a long-held “bucket list” aspiration) in memory of my parents, Fred and Veronica, and to make them proud in aiming to raise as much money as I can for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The recent pandemic has meant a drastic shortfall in funds destined for research and supporting those families in need of help.  Dementia is a horrible, debilitating disease and with your help we can find a cure.  It's been a difficult year for so many people, times are hard with so many extra pressures sow whatever you can spare will be greatly appreciated.

Both my parents died recently from a dementia-related illness and the service and support provided to us as a family by the  Alzheimer’s Society made a huge difference in helping us to understand and manage the remaining time we had with them in an informed and positive way.

Their support has inspired me to try and help raise funds for this awesome charity, to allow them to continue raising awareness, providing information, care and support to the many people with dementia across the UK, their families, friends and carers.

As I’m sure most of you will know, I’m not currently in “peak” condition to run a marathon, but whilst I’m definitely scared, nervous, daunted, and “have all the gear but no idea”, I am also very determined to smash this challenge. I have started the arduous task of training runs and I am getting support and invaluable advice from friends and family. I am also getting the word out and asking you to dig deep to help me support the only UK charity investing in the research of dementia care, cause, cure and prevention.

I have set a target of £2,000 to raise for Alzheimer's Society but I am hoping you generosity will get me past that. Please do what you can, every penny is hugely appreciated and will help motivate me around the course.

The Alzheimer’s Society is committed to spending £150m on cutting edge research over the next decade, and I’m sure you will appreciate what a mammoth task this is for any charity, so any financial help you can offer (no matter how small) will make a huge difference, not only to the charity but to me personally.  I spent my life trying to make my parents proud and I sincerely hope that my contribution in this year’s Marathon would have made them smile and stand proud that their son is “doing his bit”.

Alzheimer’s Society is transforming the landscape of dementia forever. Until the day we find a cure, we will create a society where those affected by dementia are supported and accepted, able to live in their community without fear or prejudice.

Let’s try to beat dementia together – thank you so much for your support, and it would be great to see as many of your (smiling) faces as possible on London Marathon Day!