A MAN from Stockton-on-Tees will be running the equivalent of 17 marathons from his home to John O'Groat's Landmark Attraction - virtually - to raise money for the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

The challenge is part of their Alzheimer’s Research UK's Running Down Dementia initiative, which runs from March 1 to August 31.

Dr John Hirst, due to Covid-19 restrictions will run the challenge from his home and track the miles along the route which can be followed at gb.mapometer.com/running/route_5224450.html.

Last year Dr Hirst completed a similar challenge from his home to Land's End Landmark Attraction.

Dr Hirst will take on this challenge in memory of his late wife, who died from a form of early onset dementia know as Frontotemporal Dementia on July 22, 2017 at 66-years-old.

Dr Hirst said: “My wife was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia in 2012, 18 months after her retirement as a nurse in the NHS.

"Following her diagnosis her decline was rapid resulting in loss of speech, an inability to swallow and for the final months she was forced to use a wheelchair.

"Throughout her ordeal she was always able to recognise us all and was aware until very close to the end of her life.

“Since her diagnosis I have been helping to raise awareness of early onset dementia and also to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity dedicated to understanding the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dementia.”

Claire Priestwood, North East Regional Fundraising Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Dementia affects a significant proportion of the population – one in three people over 65 in the UK will die with some form of the condition.

“That is why we are determined to help scientists discover new treatments and find ways of tackling the diseases that cause dementia, but we can’t do this without the support of our wonderful fundraisers.”

Dr Hirst is aiming to raise £500 to help fund vital dementia research in the North East, to sponsor him visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lonerunner2021 where he will be blogging about each run.

People can take on their own running challenge for Alzheimer’s Research UK by signing up for Running Down Dementia.

Participants are challenged to run 100km, 300km or a distance of their choice before August 31.

To sign up go to run.thetreblechallenge.org/

In 2019 deaths due to dementia and Alzheimer's disease continued to increase to almost 70,000 people, 27.5 per cent of people who died with Covid-19 from March to June 2020 had dementia.

For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK, or to find out more about fundraising for the charity, call 0300 111 5333 or email fundraising@alzheimersresearchuk.org.

Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading charity specialising in finding preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia.

The charity have pledged to commit a further £250 million to dementia research by 2025 to support pioneering research projects in the UK.