A man from Stockton is to compete a 100k running challenge at Middlesbrough 10k in memory of his late wife who died following a dementia diagnosis.
Dr John Hirst's wife, Patricia, was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia ten years ago and died from the form of early onset dementia five years ago on 22nd July 2017, aged 66.
In memory of her he has taken on a challenge of running five 10k events plus ten 5k park runs which commenced in Liverpool on the weekend of May 14 and 15, the 45th anniversary of their meeting when they were both studying in the city.
His final 10k run will be in Middlesbrough on September 4, with all the intermediate events being in places that had significance to his wife's life.
John running a 10k in York. Picture: JOHN HIRST
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John said: “Pat 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.”
Sara Hoxhaj, 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.”
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John is aiming to raise £500 to help fund vital dementia research in the North East, to sponsor him visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/50-50challenges, or click here.
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. Go to https://run.thetreblechallenge.org/ or click here.
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are the leading cause of death in the UK. Mortality rates for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias have increased over the last decade.
In contrast, the other top four leading causes of death in 2017; ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases and lung cancer, have all seen falling mortality rates in the last 15 years.
15.9 per cent of women died due to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in 2019 in the UK and was the leading cause of death for women.
8.8 per cent of men died due to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in 2019 in the UK. It was the second leading cause of death for men.
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