Because one in three people born in the modern era will develop dementia at some point, Alzheimer's Research UK and parkrun UK have decided to extend their partnership into the year 2023. This will allow participants to continue working toward raising two million pounds for dementia research.
One dedicated runner says that running has helped him "cope with the heartbreak" of losing his father to Alzheimer's disease over the last eight years. During this time, the parkrun runners have raised a total of $1.98 million for the charity. This amount was raised by the runners who participated in the parkrun event.
Stuart Lambie, 63, from Shrewsbury, started jogging in his late 50s through his local parkrun before he was motivated to help Alzheimer's Research UK in honour of his dad, Ian, who passed away in 2020 due to Alzheimer's disease.
He stated, "It was parkrun that helped me get into running, and it was parkrun that led me to Alzheimer's Research UK." It was at that time that my father was dealing with Alzheimer's disease, so when a friend pointed out that they are the official charity partner, it seemed like it was the right fit for me as my dad was living with it at that time. Running helped me deal with the grief of losing my dad to Alzheimer's; thus, it's beautiful that I can use running to promote dementia research.
After competing in the 2021 London Marathon and the 2022 Edinburgh Marathon, Mr. Lambie has contributed thousands of pounds to the cause of dementia research. He plans to compete in the 2021 London Marathon once more in April.
"It's lovely to think that I ran my first parkrun all those years ago, and even more remarkable to think that I'm now running marathons and collecting money for a cause that is so near and dear to my heart. "
Mr. Lambie adds, "I am very honoured to be a parkrunner and a supporter of Alzheimer's Research UK, and I am so pleased with what these two incredible organizations are accomplishing together."
It is estimated that throughout a person's lifetime, dementia will affect one out of every three persons born in the modern era.
The message of the charity's Think Brain Health campaign has also gotten significant exposure thanks to the relationship, which has significantly contributed to this effort. As a result, it has helped bring attention to the fact that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being socially engaged are two crucial factors that can contribute to preserving our marvellous brains and reducing the chance of developing dementia.
The chief executive officer of Alzheimer's Research UK, Hilary Evans, stated: "We cannot express how thankful we are that, over the past eight years, such a large number of parkrunners have supported our initiative. Many of them have family members or friends who have developed dementia, and this is the driving force behind their desire to lend us assistance."
According to Alzheimer's Research UK, if we do not find preventative measures and therapies for dementia, one in every three people born today will get dementia at some point throughout their lifespan.
According to Ms. Evans, "But our incredible backers and smart partners, like parkrun, are helping us fuel world-class studies to create life-changing discoveries for individuals with dementia."
"Advancements that will allow them to remain linked to their families, their worlds, and themselves for a longer period."
We are delighted to announce that our cooperation with parkrun will continue through 2023. We are optimistic about what we will be able to do in the future, both in terms of the further support that parkrunners will provide for research and in terms of the continuous efforts that they will make to bring attention to dementia.
This involves assisting parkrunners so that they may safeguard their brain health by engaging in both physically and socially stimulating activities.
A sad fact is that dementia affects a significant portion of our population.
parkruns are events that occur in communities worldwide every week and are open to the public. The races take place on Saturday mornings and are a distance of five kilometres. They are held in parks and other open areas.
Children ages four to 14 may participate in the two-kilometre junior parkruns every Sunday morning.
The Chief Executive Officer of parkrun UK, Russ Jefferys, stated that they are "very pleased with our long-standing association with Alzheimer's Research UK and are thrilled that we've renewed our contract for the year ahead."
It is sound knowledge that maintaining a healthy lifestyle and engaging in meaningful social activities lowers one's probability of developing dementia in later years. People may discover a place to interact with others and get support leading a more active lifestyle in their local parkrun community. parkrun communities can be found all around the United States. Sadly, dementia touches the lives of many of us, either directly or via the presence of a family member or friend who has dementia. It should not be surprising that the parkrun community has shown an unwavering willingness to embrace the relationship over the past several years.
"I'm confident that support will continue into 2023, and it won't be long until we reach two million pounds raised towards life-changing discoveries," the author says. "It is an excellent feeling to know that we're making a difference in people's lives."
