Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
This page is for this year's Great North Run, but, the page also covers ALL runs for this year (2026), for Alzheimer's Society.
This is a little insight into why I take part in many events across the UK for Alzheimer's Society:
I became a full time carer, in 2020, after I was made redundant, I took upon the role of being my Father’s main carer until February 2022 before he had to go into a care home due to his condition worsening. Watching his condition deteriorate pretty much each day though hits hard.
He would have days and bad days where sometimes, he may not have recognised me when I visited him, but other days, he would have and say my name a few times, with a smile upon his face.
As the condition too more of a hold of him, he was pretty much confined to a wheelchair due to his inability to walk much.
Sadly, on the 11th May 2026, my Father passed away, from complications of Pneumonia and Demenita. He is sadly missed. He was a big supporter of my runs, in a Superman costume, and would come watch at many events, with the last being the Derby 10 Mile, in November 2019, just at the time that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's & Vascular Dementia. The remaining 7 events that I am taking part in this year, are being ran in his memory.
With losing my Aunt too from Alzheimer's & Vascular Dementia, and having my Mother too be diagnosed with the same condition, doing these events / runs is something that I need to carry on doing, to raise the awareness of Alzheimer's & Dementia.
The support I've had, from friends, members of my clubs, the many presenters from BBC Radio Nottingham as well, for the many events that I have been taking part in this year and last few years, has been very much welcomed and appreciated.
The runs for this year officially started in March at the Nottingham 10k, and will finish in November 2026 at the Derby 10 Mile (although the first was in February 2026, the Run Through Leicestershire Half Marathon, which was more of a training run out of costume).
These are the events that I will be taking part in, although some have already been completed (some of these, I will be taking part in with one of my best mates / running partner: Elliot):
Leicestershire Half Marathon (22nd Feb) Completed
Nottingham 10k (8th March) Completed
Derby(shire)10k, Derby (15th March) Completed
Great Run, Birmingham (3rd May) Completed
Run For All Ramathon Ram 5 Mile, Derby (28th June)
Wilne 10k, Draycott (Derbyshire) (6th September)
Great North Run, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (13th September)
Robin Hood Half Marathon, Nottingham (27th September)
Altra Run For All Yorkshire Marathon, Yorkshire (18th October)
Halloween Half Marathon, Worksop (25th October)
Derby 10 Mile, Derby, (15th November)
Thank you to all that have sponsored me for the last few years (2024, 2025 & 2026) it has been greatly appreciated. 2024 & 2025 were also the best years I have had ever with my fundraising. Looking forward now to the events of 2026. Lets see what the year holds.
The last few years though, one of the highlights and major things for me, upon the journey of the 8 runs, was that I gained a great friend, who is also brilliant running / training partner, that someone that gave me that spark back, to get my fitness levels back to where I was in 2012.
We took part in some of the runs together in 2024, the majority of the 11 in 2025, which has been great! and we are looking to take part in some of them together again this year! From the start of 2024, when we started to run / train together, within this time, a brilliant friendship was formed, to where he's come pretty much like family to me, well, pretty much like a younger brother to me (I'm the youngest of 4 and always wanted a younger brother) and that means a lot to me.
So, Elliot Martin, thank you again for last year, the support and everything, it's been greatly appreciated. Here's to the many more miles we have yet to cover this year in 2026 :) I cannot thank you enough.
Another highlight for me, was being interviewed live on BBC One during the coverage of the Great North Run in 2024! :) That was brilliant! You can view it here:
In October 2025, thanks to the organisers of the Robin Hood Half Marathon and those that had nominated me, I won the Inspiring Runner Of The Year accolade! That is out of many many thousands of people! That is a massive achievement in itself!
I honestly wish there was a cure for Alzheimer's / Dementia though. That is why, this time round, I have been raising funds for solely Alzheimer's Society this year. You can donate via my JustGiving page. Any amount is welcome.
At Alzheimer’s Society we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. We do this by giving help to those living with dementia today, and providing hope for the future.