I’m running the Great North Run to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, a cause that’s incredibly important to me. My dad, Martin, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s over 10 years ago at just 58 years old, and over the years, I’ve watched this disease slowly steal away the person he once was.

One of the hardest moments—and when it really hit me—was about 6-7 years into his diagnosis. He turned to me and quietly asked, “Can we go home?” But we were sitting in our own living room. In that moment, I realised he no longer recognised where he was, or perhaps what home even meant anymore. It was heartbreaking—the realisation that he didn’t remember the life he built, the memories we all shared, or even the place where he had always felt safe. It’s a feeling I’ll never forget.

Alzheimer’s doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed—it affects their family, friends, and everyone around them. My dad’s journey is a painful reminder of how much we need to find a cure, and that’s why I’m running. The research funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK is our best hope of stopping this disease. Every step I take is for my dad, for my family, and for every other family facing the same heartbreak.

If you can, please consider donating. Every contribution—big or small—will help fund vital research that brings us one step closer to a cure.