Summary
My entry was accepted for the Great North Run 2011, so I have decided to run on behalf of the Alzheimer's Society. Please consider sponsoring me: anything you can afford will make a difference.
Author: Gez Lemon
Dementia
1 in 3 people over 65 will die with dementia. Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease that gets progressively worse, causing an irreversible loss of function in neurons in the brain. There are many types of dementia, but the most common forms are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia (caused by strokes). Dementia is a devastating condition that strips victims and their families of their lives. Dementia is more than just memory loss, and can result in a person with dementia losing the ability to talk, walk, and swallow.
The Alzheimer's Society
The Altzheimer's Society is a British charity that supports people with dementia and their families, and support research into different types of dementia. Although they are a British charity, the research they fund benefits the world.
The Great North Run 2011
The great north run is the world's most popular half marathon, which starts in Newcastle and ends in South Shields. The event is held in September, and there will be 54,000 runners. As it's the world's most popular half marathon, it's difficult to enter. I was fortunate that my entry was accepted. Once my place was confirmed, I decided that I wanted to run for charity to help motivate me.
Charity
I considered a few charities, but decided on the Alzheimer's Society, as the work they do is important, but they do not receive the same amount of attention as other worthy high profile charities, such as Cancer Research.
My Nan had dementia, and it was awful watching the disease take its grip. It started with confusion, but by the end she didn't recognise her family, and at one point thought I had come to put her in a home - her biggest fear. Things have come a long way since she died, thanks for the work of the Alzheimer's Society, but there was very little understanding or support before she died.
Please consider sponsoring me. Any amount you can afford will make a big difference in helping people with dementia.
Category: General.