Dementia Support Line
We’re challenging you to run 50 or 100 miles in 30 days.
Whether it’s the peaceful quiet of a trail run, the buzz of the traffic on a road run or coming together at your local parkrun that gets you inspired, make every step matter for people living with dementia.
The Run for Dementia challenge offers two distances: 50 miles (80km) or 100 miles (160km) in 30 days.
Simply sign up for free, select your distance, set up a fundraising page and pop on those trainers! All funds raised through your efforts will support people across the UK living with dementia.
As a recognition for all your hard work we'll send you a medal when you raise £100 and an Alzheimer's Society running top when you raise £300. You can wear it on your next run with pride knowing you gave help and hope to people affected by dementia.
How far will you go for dementia?
Feel the love, support and community when you join our Run for Dementia Facebook group. Share tips, progress updates and words of encouragement with your fellow runners.
What you need to know
It's free to take part and there is no minimum fundraising target. We'd encourage every participant to raise £100 and earn their well-deserved medal.
You’re responsible for tracking your own mileage. Track your distance using your phone, smart watch or other device. You can link your Strava app or Fitbit to your JustGiving fundraising page to keep your friends and family up to date on your challenge.
The difference your fundraising can make
- £300 means over 1,700 people can access Talking Point, our online forum. Here people can learn from each other experiences, share their frustrations and their knowledge of local services.
- £95 provides a telephone-based Dementia Adviser for a full day. Providing essential support to those affected by dementia.
- £15 turns four ordinary citizens into superhero Dementia Friends! There is a stigma attached to living with dementia and Dementia Friends facilitates societal change, helping people understand the impact on people’s lives
Why you should join our running challenge
- The health benefits – running can increase stamina, strength, aerobic fitness and burn calories. It’s a fun way to get fit, maintain a healthy weight and keep active.
- This challenge is a great way to stay motivated and keep up your daily exercise. Take part when and where you want – in your local area, on a treadmill or explore a change of scenery.
- While your feet may be sore, you will have a full heart knowing that your incredible achievement for Alzheimer’s Society will help end the devastation caused by dementia.
FAQs
Contact us about this event
Got a question about this event? Get in touch and we'll respond as soon as we can.
We’re challenging everyone to run 50 or 100 miles within a month. You can track your miles each day using a smart watch or your phone. If you’d like to increase the distance and set a higher target, that’s completely up to you!
No – Run for Dementia is free to take part!
You can set your own target, we suggest £100.
As recognition of your achievement when you raise £100+ you will be posted an Alzheimer's Society medal, and when you raise £300+ you will be posted an Alzheimer's Society running top (UK residents only).
You can track your miles however you wish. Use your favourite app or make a tally.
If you use Strava or Fitbit, you can link your account to your JustGiving page to track your activities and share your progress with your supporters. When viewing your page, scroll down to the Fitness Activity box and click Connect with Strava or Connect with Fitbit. See the full instructions for Strava here and for Fitbit here.
Only connect once you're ready to start your challenge as all of your activities will upload to your page. Once setup you can change your settings by clicking Manage Strava/Fitbit Settings found in the same Fitness Activity box on your fundraising page. This will let you pick what information you share on your page.
If you don't use Strava or Fitbit, you'll find a button to Add manual data in the Fitness Activity box, under the Connect with Strava button. You can manually add your activities to keep your supporters updated on your progress and track your total activity.
See JustGiving's help pages here if you're having a problem connecting.
When you raise £100+ on your JustGiving fundraising page you will receive a special medal in the post as a thank you. (UK residents only)
We'll send out one medal per fundraising page setup, if you would like additional medals please get in touch.
You don't need to do anything to claim your medal, we'll pop it in the post. We send out medals in the last week of each month, so your medal should arrive within 4-6 weeks of you hitting the £100 target. If it's been longer than 6 weeks and you haven't heard from us, please pop us an email so we can help to events@alzheimers.org.uk.
Please set up a Just Giving page to fundraise. All income is transferred directly to us. You will be able to share your progress on Facebook and Twitter too.
We will also provide fundraising tips and support throughout your journey. We ask you to get any final donations over to us within a month of completing your challenge.
You can download a fundraising pack here. We can of course send more copies in the post if you need them - simply email us at events@alzheimers.org.uk to request this.
The money you raise will make a big difference to the lives of many affected by dementia. We fund essential support services for people living with dementia and their carers, as well as funding research to find a cure.
To find out more you can visit our website at www.alzheimers.org.uk.
You can pay offline donations into your fundraising page, you also have the option to collect sponsorship via our sponsorship form or by sending us a cheque. Please view the full list on how to send in your offline donations.
All UK residents who raise £300+ on their JustGiving page will get a free Alzheimer's Society running top. We'll be in touch once you've hit this target to ask for your preferred size.
If you've hit £300 and not heard from us, please email events@alzheimers.org.uk with your size (XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL) so we can order one for you.
Or you can buy running kit in our shop.
Of course! Join our Facebook group to get chatting.
Prefer Strava? Join the Strava group here.
Download our 8 top running tips and our training guide here.
If you need further help, please email our professional running coaches for free advice. Contact them on info@runningwithus.com.