Marathon running 'FTD Brothers' bring dementia campaign to Offaly
Jordan Adams addressed crowd in Tullamore Town Park after 26 miles in gruelling heat
WHEN he got his breath back after leading supporters home in his 30th consecutive daily marathon, remarkable runner Jordan Adams' thoughts were with all those who have been backing himself and his brother Cian.
With the Offaly leg complete, the FTD Brothers have just two runs left in their amazing 32 marathons across 32 counties.
Speaking to well wishers in Tullamore Town Park, Jordan said: “We're blown away.”
He thanked the public for the “sacrifices” they make on a daily basis and recalled how the brothers' campaign began.
“We never knew what was coming four weeks ago when I stuck a fridge on my back and we ran the London Marathon together.”
Jordan and Cian grew up in Redditch, near Birmingham, but they have strong Irish connections, with a grandfather from Drumlish, Co Longford and cousins in Ballinamuck.
Their mother Geraldine died from dementia at just 52 and they both have a 99% chance of developing frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Addressing the Tullamore crowd Jordan said himself and Cian feel very proud to be Irish: “I don't think it's any coincidence that we've come back to Ireland... it's you guys that are giving dementia a voice, it's you guys who are giving families hope because for too long now too many of us felt isolated, unsupported, unseen.”
He added: “I can run all the marathons I like, I can fundraise as long as I like, for a decade, however long it takes.
“But until we make people in the right places stop and listen like we have over the last four weeks... I don't think it should have taken two Brummie lads to come over here and run 32 consecutive marathons and to advocate in the Dail on your behalf.”
He pledged to continue the battle: “It's not the end, we will continue to come out here and advocate for you for as long as we can until dementia takes our lives.”
Jordan Adams (31) ran the London Marathon on April 26 with a 25kg fridge on his back to symbolise the burden of dementia.
The FTD Brothers' Irish odyssey included the Belfast Marathon and they will conclude their journey in Dublin on Thursday.