Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Just after the first lockdown last year, and after much persuasion, I went out for a run one night with Donald Hopkins.

To say I struggled was an understatement, but I then went for another one, and another one and eventually started to enjoy it.

Fast forward to a fortnight ago and I found out that I had been lucky enough to secure a place to run the London Marathon.

I was overjoyed at the seemingly crazy prospect of training over the
next few months so I can force myself to run over 26 miles in one go……and probably not walk very easily for a few days after. 

Friends and family will know I would love to say I have run a marathon, much like I have always said I would like to own a Ferrari or retire at 50……the car and retirement will probably not happen but I have been given a chance to tick the box on the marathon dream.

Although last year was the year I started running, it was also the year that my Dad, Alan Walker, was diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s.

When we think back Dad had been illustrating some symptoms for some time, but it took a long time to have this confirmed by his Consultant.

My dad is still my dad every day and Alzheimer’s will never take that away,  however there are some other days when we see signs of the impact Alzheimer’s may have.  

Some are funny and we have a good laugh about them with him as a
family……and some are not so.

Did you know that 52% of the UK public know someone who has been diagnosed with some form of Dementia?

One in 14 people over 65 have a form of Dementia and Alzheimer’s accounts for 66% of all cases in the UK.

Alzheimer’s is not reversible and there is no cure yet so its obvious to me that society needs to understand more about the condition, both on a social and scientific level.

Alzheimer’s is having an impact on my family, as it has also with my wife Liesa’s Granda and her family, so I have decided if there is anything I can do to help research into the disease I think I should. 

Only by doing research can we expand our knowledge and only by raising funds can we do research….so like my running it goes round in circles.

I am certainly not a scientist , I am not medically trained, I am not a researcher so the only thing I can do really is to run….and if you listen to my three boys, they have doubts I can do that as well. But I don’t.

This is where the two parts of my story come together.

I am running the London Marathon in 2021 for Alzheimer’s Research UK and I would like to ask for your support through sponsorship.

I have a target of £3000 minimum to raise and the race is on October the 4^th.

I know this would make a huge difference to Alzheimer’s Research UK.  I also know that the work Alzheimer’s Research does makes a huge difference to people who have Alzheimer’s and their families.  

If there is anything you feel you can donate to help me achieve this target, I would be very grateful and I know the team at ARUK would be as well.

I have training support through Donald Hopkins, Craig Duthie and my son Jack, who is also running the Marathon for ARUK and his Granda  

These three will be invaluable over the next 7 months and I will be posting regular updates on my training progress.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for your donation if you are able to help.  With your support I know I will manage to complete this personal challenge, and in turn support ARUK in their challenge.

Steve