Dementia is now the UK's biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes. There are currently about 1 million people with dementia in the UK.

Too many are facing dementia alone without adequate support. We urgently need to find a cure, improve care and offer help and understanding for people affected. 

I am running the ASICS 10K for my dad, John, who has lived with dementia for over 10 years. He was a keen athlete, and a serious runner (he had run the half mile in less than two minutes). He also made his career as a historian of sport, including his landmark 2004 book ‘Running Cultures’. He taught me to enjoy and understand athletics, as both a runner and scholar, and not to take sport too seriously as anything other than pleasure. 

The cover picture shows my dad running in the snow in the Staffordshire countryside, c. 1980. 

This cruel disease robs people of everything they enjoy and the need for better treatment will only become more acute. I’m grateful for any support you can give.