Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I want to start by saying you’re not ‘just giving’. You’re helping to change the lives of many thousands of people like my grandad Jim who suffered from vascular dementia.

He was the kindest, funniest, most caring man you could wish to meet and everyone who knew him remembers something special about him. As one of his five grandchildren I remember eating sandy sandwiches with him at the beach. I remember learning to plant seeds in his greenhouse. And laughing when he pulled potatoes out of his Christmas stocking. I remember how much he hated sprouts, and how much he loved my grandma.

They say no-one can take your memories away, but sadly dementia can. In the last few years of his life my grandad forgot the holidays he’d enjoyed. He forgot the places he’d visited, and many of the friends he’d made. We were lucky - he never forgot who we were, but he couldn’t remember that we’d been to visit him. Eventually my grandad forgot how to walk, how to use a knife and fork, he even forgot how to swallow. He never stopped loving my grandma but he got irritated if she stroked his arm or tried to hold his hand. Dementia made him frustrated and isolated, but we were all there for him – family, friends, doctors, nurses and carers – and even in the last few days of his life he would always open his eyes (sometimes just the one) and give us a smile.

In some ways he was very lucky. He had a long and happy life and did most of the things that he wanted to do. But dementia took his last precious months away from him. And that’s why I’m running the London Marathon - to raise much needed funds for an amazing charity, Dementia UK. They provide specialist Admiral Nurses to families affected by dementia. Nurses who offer one-to-one support, and the expert guidance families need to face this terrible illness without feeling
helpless or afraid. In short, they help you stay connected with the person you love.

I’m running for them but, more importantly, I’m running for my grandad. He’ll be @myjimbuddy (Instagram page) throughout my months of training and together we’ll make a difference. Any donation you can make, however small, will mean more than you know.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – the’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.