A pair of brothers have smashed a marathon challenge across Ireland, raising £1million for dementia research in memory of their late mum.
Jordan and Cian Adams have a high chance of developing dementia in their 40s due to a rare gene.
Jordan, 30, is running 33 marathons in 33 days to raise funds and awareness of dementia, with support from Cian, 25.
Their mother Geraldine died at the age of 52 after developing frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The so-called FTD Brothers, from Redditch, Worcestershire, had set a target of raising £1million before they develop symptoms.
Jordan began by running the London Marathon on April 26 while carrying a 25kg fridge on his back, before travelling to Ireland to run a marathon a day in each of the 32 counties across the island.
The odyssey included competing in the Belfast Marathon on Sunday and will conclude in Dublin on May 28.
On Monday, hundreds came out to support the brothers as they set off for their latest run in Dundalk, Co Louth.
Jordan and Cian Adams are running in tribute of their mum Geraldine
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Cian said: “It is really rare but familial frontotemporal dementia runs in our family. That accounts for less than one per cent of dementias.
“Mum was one of 13 cousins, and eight out of the 13 had dementia in their 40s. Myself and my brother Jordan have been tested and we know that we carry the mutation that causes that FTD.”
Jordan added: “I was 15 when mum was diagnosed. Mum went from being this vivacious, bubbly, life and soul character, she had this amazing gift of leaving her presence in every year. She was a beautiful person inside and out.
“We noticed small but significant changes around 2008/09 when mum became more socially withdrawn, she wasn’t herself, and alongside that were the issues with memory and the basic, simple cognitive tasks like driving us to school in the morning became difficult for her.”
Jordan and Cian praised the Irish community for cheering them on
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The brothers have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity over the past eight years, but said their fundraising efforts and recognition have taken off since they began their latest challenge.
Jordan said: “We have come back to the place my mum called home here in Ireland and we have been received like we could never have expected.
“The Irish people have got behind us so incredibly. I think we are going to need some crowd control by the time we get to Dublin because it is getting a bit crazy.”
Cian added: “The public reaction has been absolutely mind-blowing, unbelievable. We didn’t expect the level of support we would get.
“It takes Jordan about 10 minutes to get anywhere because he is like the selfie king now. We are grateful to the Irish people for getting behind two English lads.”
Jordan Adams from Redditch was congratulated by Dundalk runners
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The brothers’ “lifetime goal” of raising £1million was surpassed last week and they are on track to pass £1million during their London Marathon and Irish challenge.
Cian said: “It feels like the whole of Ireland is behind us now and people all over the globe.”
Jordan added: “It has gone beyond the fundraising goal, it is the millions of people we have inspired around the world. To have that sort of impact all over the world is even more important than raising a million pounds.
“There are so many families all over the world who suffer in silence, who have lived through dementia and felt that heartbreak and devastation.”
Cian joked that his brother cannot have a Guinness to celebrate the fundraising landmark as he’s got another 25 marathons to run.
A supporter of the FTD brothers, Jordan and Cian Adam, displays a banner at Ice House Hill Park
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