Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a progressive brain disorder that primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, areas responsible for behaviour, personality, language, and decision-making. Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which typically impacts memory first, FTD manifests with changes in behaviour and communication abilities. It’s a challenging condition for both the person affected and their loved ones.

It has effected me and my Family enormously over the past few years. My Mother-in-law was sadly diagnosed with this cruel disease just over a year ago. As FTD and it's symptoms don't manifest themselves in the same way that more common forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's do, things such as memory tests didn't show up any signs, so trying to convince the medical profession that there is something wrong but not knowing what, with somebody you loved was possibly the hardest and most frustrating part of our journey.

Whilst hard to see my mother-in-law change into a person that I no longer recognised through her behavioural changes and erratic decision making, the hardest part was watching my Wife lose her Mother, her childhood home, her family base and that constant that she'd had throughout her entire life, all whilst she is still with us (but not). It takes an amazing amount of strength and courage to still carry on throughout all of this.

I decided, with a bit of healthy peer pressure to run the Leeds 10K on Sunday 15th June 2025 to raise money for The National Brain Appeal and the amazing work that they do for the Families of those effected and the research to hopefully one day find a cure for this cruel, unfair disease.

Secondly, I hope to make the bravest person I know, my Wife proud of me because I know I am of her every single day.

We would be forever grateful if you could sponsor us for even just a small amount as every penny and pound really does make a difference.