In April, We will be taking on the Paris Marathon to raise money for Dementia UK, a cause that is incredibly close to our heart. We’re running in support of our stepdad, Keith, who has been on a difficult and emotional journey with vascular dementia.

Back in 2019, we started to notice that Keith wasn’t quite himself. Concerned, Mum called the doctor, and what followed was a long year and a half of medical investigations, eventually leading to surgery. Then, in an unexpected turn, Keith suffered a stroke. As Mum sat in the hospital waiting to see a doctor, his condition quickly worsened, and it became clear that something was seriously wrong. Over the next two weeks, while he remained in the hospital, it was confirmed that Keith had suffered a severe stroke.

A few months later, after another episode and a visit to A&E, further scans revealed Keith had actually suffered a major stroke during his surgery a year earlier, but his remarkable recovery had masked it. With this new information, doctors suspected he could be in the early stages of vascular dementia, but we had to wait six months for a specialist assessment.

In October 2021, we finally got the confirmation: Keith has vascular dementia and early stages of Alzheimer’s, at only 66 years old.

Dementia is such a cruel disease, not only affecting memory but impacting personality, independence, and the lives of loved ones. By running the Paris Marathon, We want to raise as much as we can to help Dementia UK continue their incredible work. If you can, please donate—every penny will make a difference. Whether it’s £5 or £500, your support will go towards providing crucial care for families who need it most.

Thank you so much for your support!

Lauren & Minnie 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️💙