A 53-YEAR-old is running 2,021 miles this year to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK in honour of his dad who was diagnosed four years ago.

Northwich resident Mike McDonough has so far raised £2,000 for the dementia research charity after watching his dad deteriorate from the condition.

He wants to raise as much money as possible to help the charity find a cure for the disease.

Mike’s Dad, Bill McDonough, who also lives in Northwich, was a factory engineer with Nestle in South Africa during his working career and moved back to Northwich in 2011.

Mike and his family have had to watch as Bill’s condition has deteriorated to the point where has very little ability to communicate and interact with them and no ability to care for himself.

Mike’s mum Mary has been Bill’s primary carer for the last four years.

Mike said: "Dementia is a terrible disease, which has a profound effect on whole families.

"While it may be too late for my Dad now, I am proud to be raising funds for a great charity with the aim to find a cure for the diseases that cause dementia.

"There is no cure for dementia and even the medicines prescribed can only slow the progress.

"Research is the only way to understand the disease and hopefully find more effective treatments and ultimately a way to stop the illness completely."

On top of the £2,000 Mike had raised, his employer, Innospec in Ellesmere Port, will treble his fundraising through their Innospec Cares program.

To sponsor Mike visit justgiving.com/fundraising/mikeforalzheimers.

Simon McDermott, regional fundraising officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: "Dementia affects a significant proportion of the population – one in three people over 65 in the UK will die with some form of the condition.

"That is why we are determined to help scientists discover new treatments and find ways of tackling the diseases that cause dementia, but we can’t do this without the support of our wonderful fundraisers."

For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK, or to find out more about fundraising for the charity, call 0300 111 5555 or visit alzheimersresearchuk.org.