I have witnessed first-hand the terrible impact that brain disease can have. The personality of the person that you care for and love disappears, leaving behind a barely recognisable person often accompanied by loss of dignity. Many brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, have more than one cause and that is why I am eager to once again raise money to help support brain research.

As a retired Clinical Scientist who spent much of his career in Pathology, in Teaching Hospitals, I am acutely aware of the contribution that science makes to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease and to the research that strives to improve all of those aspects of health and disease. Previous challenges have included trekking up Kilimanjaro, cycling east west across America and west east across Canada. This time around my challenge will be an Ironman distance Triathlon which involves a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a marathon (26.2 mile) run

As I have entered my 70th year I am very lucky to be still physically and mentally able. Whilst I had cycled 112 miles before I had never swum 2.4 miles (my front crawl is almost useless) nor had I ever run a marathon. So attempting an Iron Distance Triathlon in less than 17 hours with only four months available to train, was a big challenge - but I did it! That I finished the event within the cut off was due to training every day bar one rest day, for the whole 16 weeks. However, it was and is for a very worthy cause – The Yorkshire Brain Appeal that is dedicated to funding research into brain diseases with a particular focus on epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and dementia including Alzheimer’s based in the Neurosciences unit at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, led by Professor Helen Ford.

I fully appreciate that there are many appeals for help and many people attempting real challenges to support them. However, in many ways this was the hardest challenge that I have ever attempted. The support that I received made me even more determined to succeed, but more importantly it has and will help raise funds for a very worthwhile cause. As with all of my challenges this one was entirely self-funded.

To see a family member, or close friend bedridden, with no memory of you, unable to care for themselves and in tears is distressing. Together, we can help to detect brain disease sooner, or indeed the likelihood of developing brain disease, find better treatments to minimise its impact and ultimately eradicate it. It will take time, but the more that we are able to support brain research, the shorter that time will be.

I really would be very grateful if you could sponsor this, my latest challenge.

For more information on The Yorkshire Brain Appeal please visit:

Yorkshire Brain Appeal (leedshospitalscharity.org.uk)

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.