Why I’m taking part in the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon for the third time

And fundraising for Alzheimer Scotland

Iain Whyte knows first-hand the challenges that coronavirus is having on people living with dementia and those caring for them.

Iain told us: “As a teenager my Grandma had dementia, and due to my mum being an only child, my parents had to deal with 15 years of emotions and heartache, running from A to B trying to do the right thing.

“My mum was emotionally drained and the phone calls in the middle of the night from the Police saying Grandma was out for a walk at 3am and trying to wake up the people in her childhood home to speak to her mother caused everyone lots of pain.”

Unfortunately, both his parents were also later diagnosed with dementia. He now lives with his family including his father-in-law who is living with symptoms of dementia.

Iain has signed up to this October’s Baxters Loch Ness Marathon to support Alzheimer Scotland and is also taking part in their Do it for Dementia campaign to support his marathon training and to continue his fundraising efforts during the pandemic.

Alzheimer Scotland want to help ensure that nobody faces dementia alone. Estimates put the number of people living with dementia in Scotland at over 90,000 and it is predicted that this number will continue to significantly increase in the coming years.

Alzheimer Scotland offers care, information, services and support to people with dementia and carers in Scotland. Do it for Dementia virtual event series is allowing people to support the charity during the pandemic and with endless challenges available to take part in, this is an ideal virtual event for those preparing for the Loch Ness Marathon and looking for a motivational boost to their training.

You can sign up to Alzheimer Scotland’s Do it for Dementia and incorporate this into your Loch Ness training and fundraising here.