Tom Morison
Fundraising for a Centre for Rare Dementia Support
Fundraising for The National Brain Appeal
Story
As some of you may know, last year my Dad was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia. He has Logopenic Progressive Aphasia and Alzheimer’s and his deterioration during the Covid-19 pandemic has been quite dramatic.
I am keen to do my part to help and this summer I will be spending a weekend in the summer half term running a 200km stretch of the South West Coastal Path from North to South Cornwall. I will be raising money for Rare Dementia Support who are funded through the work of The National Brain Appeal and I would like your help to raise funds for a charity committed to improving the outcome and quality of life for all those affected by a neurological condition.
During the last 18 months I have used running as a way of collecting my thoughts and clearing my mind of all the worries and upset that this diagnosis has brought; running has become an essential release and I’m lucky that I have been able to spend a large amount of time out on the roads and trails, supported on many runs by my son, Alfie and always from home by my daughter, Grace and wife, Anne.
In the summer of 2019 I ran the Brecon Beacons Ultramarathon, an 85km trail across some of the most beautiful mountain scenery. During lockdown, I backed on to the fundraising of my friend Ed Speleers as we ran 100km around a 1.8km loop of our streets. The total funds raised for the NHS Charities Together website was in excess of £13,000; we were amazed with people’s generosity. Ed, and other friends from the running community are joining me throughout the weekend and I hope that the suffering that the impending 200km will provide will go someway to easing the pain of watching this dreadful illness take hold of such a loving, talented and clever man.
Thank you, in advance for your support.
Tom
The National Brain Appeal's campaign to establish the world's first Centre for Rare Dementia Support.The National Brain Appeal has supported Rare Dementia Support (RDS) since the first meetings in 1994. RDS runs regular, specialist support groups, in London and regionally, provides newsletters, contact networks and an digital platform with access to information and advice for people living with or at risk of inherited, atypical and young onset dementias. Our vision is to support all these people by substantially expanding RDS.Please help The National Brain Appeal reach the first million of this campaign to create the worlds first centre of excellence for rarer dementias.The Rare Dementia Support Centre will exemplify how best to support those living with a rare dementia, through the involvement of its members and visitors in research and will lead in the bespoke education of families, healthcare and other relevant professionals.
