Why am I running? 

Jane is mum to my bestest and oldest friend Sarah. She was diagnosed with early onset vascular dementia in April 2015 at the age of 64.

This was after several months of strange and upsetting behaviour, initially diagnosed as depression.

The following 2 years were incredibly difficult. Jane was admitted to hospital a number of times, once into a locked psychiatric ward for 6 weeks over Christmas as she was so delusional and aggressive it was not safe for her to be at home.

Her decline has been rapid and destructive. After 2 years of coping as best he could, Stephen could no longer cope and Jane entered a care home. For the past 2.5 years she has continued to decline rapidly. Jane can no longer walk, feed herself, clean herself, stand, right herself when seated in a chair or communicate.

She knows no one. She doesn’t even respond to her favourite music. She is so lost within her world no one can reach her.
She is 69 years old and has 3 children and 8 grandchildren and a husband who is utterly lost without her.

I feel at a loss sometimes as to how to help Sarah during this upsetting time and the realisation that vascular dementia has robbed her of her mum. By doing this together, I feel I am helping in some way. Every step will count, the long training runs will be painful and the marathon hard, but nothing in comparison to Sarah's pain and that of her family.

So this is why.....

For Jane, for Sarah, for their family and others like theirs. 

xxx

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