I am taking part in the Ironman challenge in Portugal Cascais on the 15th October.

A 3.8km swim along Cascais Bay, followed by a 180km two loop bike course across breathtaking views of the Portuguese Riviera, finishing off with a 42km run following the Guincho road along the coast to Cabo Raso.

This is such an incredibly tough event which I am so proud to be taking a part in.

Over 10 years ago, my beautiful, loving and talented mother, Margaret, was diagnosed with dementia. She was only 52. Along with my brother, Gareth, and my father, David, we suffered alongside Margaret as slowly but surely her health declined. The wonderful, amazing woman who had brought me up now needs full time care and there are thousands of others just like her all over the country.

The causes of dementia are still not fully understood but it is an awful disease that robs an individual of their ability to think, remember and reason. It effects people differently: some cannot control their emotions and others undergo a complete change of personality. It often starts with mild symptoms but almost always ends with the individual being entirely dependent on others for every part of their daily needs. It is relentless, cruel and impossibly upsetting for both its victims and their loved ones. Sadly it effects more and more each year. The majority of those it effects are old but it is not an inevitable part of ageing and increasingly it claims the young.

The Alzheimer’s Society is a leading voluntary health organisation that provides care and support for all those affected by dementia. It is also the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research and is committed to advancing vital research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.

I am proudly raising money to support the fantastic work carried out by the Alzheimer’s Society  and I hope that you will help me in raising as much money as possible to help combat this awful disease.