Main content
Natalie Brown from Aberdeen is gearing up for her biggest personal challenge by running the full Edinburgh marathon in May. She is running to help raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland in memory of her much-loved Granda, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2008 and lived with the illness for 9 years in a local care home.
Natalie bagged the Baker Hughes 10k in 2017 and completed the Great Aberdeen half marathon last year, before gaining the confidence to sign up to the Edinburgh marathon. Currently following the official EMF 16-week training programme in preparation for her biggest running challenge, she now has her sights firmly set on completing the EMF marathon in Edinburgh on 26 May.
Looking ahead to the marathon, Natalie says: “Granda Brian was my best friend and we did everything together up until he passed away, he is and will always be my inspiration for everything in life.
“Granda was a milk man for most of his days before retiring through a bad back eventually. When I was a school kid, he encouraged me to walk everywhere during the school holidays. One holiday I remember us both walking from Torry to the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre to watch live snooker. We would watch football on the TV together and he would often take me to Pittodrie to see Aberdeen FC. I really got into playing football at a young age from his encouragement and his love of the game. Later as I got older we would enjoy a Friday night drink at the local pub after my work where we would play pool, but he’d almost always win against me and everyone else in the room.
“He absolutely doted on my son Bradley, who was born the same year he was diagnosed and even though his condition worsened he never forgot his name and always asked after him. This is undoubtedly the toughest challenge I’ve ever faced but I’m determined to complete the marathon and raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland to help all the great work they are doing to support people living with dementia and their families.”
Isabel Quinn, Sponsored Events Fundraiser from Alzheimer Scotland, said: “We are so thankful to Natalie for all that she is doing to help raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland in memory of her much loved Granda and wish her well for the up and coming marathon. With around 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland, it is our biggest health and social care challenge and it isn’t going to go away. We’re so grateful to Natalie for helping us to make sure no one face faces dementia alone.”
Do something amazing in 2019 for dementia and help raise vital funds to support Alzheimer Scotland as part of our Change Dementia campaign. Whether you’re thinking about taking on the ultimate fitness challenge, or looking for a fun way to fundraise, there is something for everyone to take part in. What will you do in 2019? Join #TeamAlzScot today by visiting www.alzscot.org/changedementia
If you want to support Natalie in her fundraising please click here.