Truck driver’s Great North Run for cause
Funds will go towards dementia research
A TRUCK driver from Newbold Verdon has raised more than £1,000 running the Great North Run to raise awareness of a rare form of dementia.
David Brown, 39, ran the iconic half-marathon to raise funds for frontotemporal dementia after his father-in-law Dean Clarke passed away from the disease in 2014 aged 63.
The condition is earlyonset and affects less than 5% of all dementia patients and, unlike most forms, is passed through families because of a faulty gene.
David, a keen runner, finished the 12.6 mile course in one hour and 57 minutes.
He said: “I’m happy because I wanted to get under two hours, but in hindsight I would have gone slower at the start.
“It was a really good experience and I enjoyed it until a point. When I got to about eight and half miles I was struggling, I didn’t really pace myself very well.
“I haven’t really tallied all the money up yet, but I’m on well over £1,000 so I’m quite pleased with that.
“My initial target was £400 as that’s how much you had to raise to get a charity place, and I thought I could raise at least twice that and I’ve passed that mark again!”
Kenneth Foreman, sporting event manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Genetic forms of dementia are very rare, but when they occur they can devastate families. Only research can beat this awful condition. We’re so grateful to David for taking on the Great North Run and to the whole family for their incredible support.”
To donate to David visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/davidbrown7791
To find out more about Alzheimer’s Research UK, or to find out more about fundraising for the charity, call 0200 111 5555 or visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org