Charity Champion to run London Marathon despite painful leg injury

A fundraiser will be running the London Marathon for the eighth time for Alzheimer’s Research UK – despite suffering from a painful leg injury.

Chris Drummond, 53, has raised more than £16,500 for the charity over the past six years with his wife Terrie, 50.

The pair began supporting the charity after Chris’s mum Dot died with dementia in 2006 at the age of 84, and his Auntie Cis, Dot’s sister, died with dementia in her 90s just two years ago.

They were named Champions of Alzheimer’s Research UK, Chris in 2013 and Terrie in 2015 – an accolade given to a handful of supporters in recognition of their outstanding efforts to help the charity beat dementia.

During this year’s training for the 26.2 mile race, Chris was struck down with Achilles tendonitis, causing a pain in his Achilles tendon, and has been receiving extensive treatment to make sure he is as fit as safely possible to still run.

But despite the setback, Chris is determined to finish the race on 23 April and raise as much money as he can for the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

Chris, who lives with Terrie in Milton, Cambridgeshire, said:

“I am still injured at the moment, but I am determined and will still be there on the day, running or walking. I will start and more importantly – finish! I had already done a 15 and 17-mile long run when I got injured, so I have mileage in my legs.

“I’m determined as ever to raise as much money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, no matter what. I’ll be thinking about my mum and my Auntie Cis as I go round the course, and that will keep me going.

“Mum worked as an accounts clerk until she was 72. My dad passed away when I was 17, so it was just me and mum until I moved out just before I got married, nearly 15 year later, so we were very close.

“I first realised something was wrong was when she couldn’t remember how to make her special cauliflower cheese.

“She deteriorated very quickly during her last year. She was always immaculately dressed but totally lost her dress sense, preferring to sleep in the armchair all night, fully clothed, rather than go to bed.

“She would also get angry at the smallest of things, it was very distressing and frustrating.”

Chris and Terrie both work at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where Chris works for Bereavement Care Services and Terrie is a nurse.

The pair held a Mighty Quiz at The Lion and Lamb in Cambridge, raising £510 to put towards their fundraising.

The Mighty Quiz is a new fundraising initiative launched by Alzheimer’s Research UK. The DIY quiz encourages participants to bring their family, friends and colleagues together to boost vital dementia research.

Kenneth Foreman, Sporting Events Manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“Chris and Terrie are incredible supporters of Alzheimer’s Research UK and we will be cheering Chris on all the way at this year’s marathon.

“Over the years they have worked tirelessly both in their fundraising and to raise awareness of the urgent need for more investment into research for dementia.

“We’re thrilled they had such a fantastic time putting on a Mighty Quiz, and we are keeping our fingers crossed that Chris recovers in time for the London Marathon.”

To donate to Chris’s fundraising page go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/ChrisDrummond

Anyone interested in finding out more about The Mighty Quiz can go to www.themightyquiz.org, or to find out more about Alzheimer’s Research UK’s running events go to www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/events/