Luke’s story: 100 miles against Alzheimer’s
Luke tells how he was inspired to run 100 miles in one day to raise funds in honour of his dad Paul
When I decided to run 100 miles in one day to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland, a lot of people thought I was crazy. But I wanted to take on a big challenge to support the charity who have done so much to help our family.
My dad Paul was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2023 when he was only 57. We’d noticed signs for a few years before then. He had become more forgetful and was finding it difficult to do ordinary tasks and to learn new things. Work had become very challenging for him and he was initially signed off with stress before eventually taking early retirement.
When he stopped working, I think he lost a lot of his sense of purpose and fulfilment. Dad’s diagnosis was difficult to hear and had a big impact on the whole family. But in a way it also helped us to plan a way forward, and to work out how best to support him so he can live as well as he can for as long as possible.
We live in Glasgow and we were very fortunate to have found Alzheimer Scotland. They have been an amazing source of information and support – not just for my dad but also for my mum Kirsten. I’m not sure what we would do without them.
Dad now goes to the Alzheimer Scotland centre in Bridgeton once or twice a week, and he loves it. It’s given him back a routine and it helps him to stay active and socially connected. Dad has always loved to laugh and joke around, and he’s in his element at the centre chatting to everyone there. You can see how it benefits him and helps him stay positive.
It’s been good for my mum too as she can speak to other people there who are in a similar situation. When dad goes to a group or on a day out, it also gives my mum a bit of time to herself too which is so important.
Having seen first-hand the impact that dementia can have on families, I knew I wanted to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland. I work as a PE teacher and I’m relatively fit. But running 100 miles in one go – only stopping to eat and for bathroom breaks – is the biggest challenge I’ve ever taken on.
I’ve been blown away by all the support I’ve received. I’ve raised more than £5,600, which is just incredible. On the day of the challenge, I also had lots of support from family and friends. My dad ran with me for the first couple of miles, then my uncle, my fiancée Shona and other friends joined in as I ran loops from my house. I think I switched into autopilot for most of it and finally finished in 22 hours and 24 minutes.
I hope this challenge raises awareness of dementia – especially around diagnosis in younger people – and that the money raised can help Alzheimer Scotland continue their important work.
Support Luke at justgiving.com/page/luke-mcgunnigle-3
