Riviera Travel Trading Director Stuart Milan is planning to run two half marathons to raise money for Dementia UK.
Stuart will be taking part in the Great North Run in Newcastle on 7 September and the Great Cumbrian Run in Carlisle on 5 October.
He told Travel Gossip: “I’ve been signed up to the half marathons for about six months.
“About two months ago, I realised I needed to get some training in, and to help me get there, I decided to put a cause against it to give me some encouragement.
“My granddad suffered from dementia towards the end of his life, and unless we’d experienced it ourselves, I don’t think we would have realised how tough it was.
“Friends of mine, including those in the travel industry, have experienced difficulties of loved ones with dementia too, I think it’s something we seriously underestimate. Therefore, I wanted to do a little bit to help.”
Having spent the last month in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, working with his US team, Stuart describes his training regime as ‘light’.
He added: “I’ve been getting out for five-mile runs each morning – early to beat the heat – with at least one longer run each week, getting up to about 11 miles.
“I’m back in the UK this week, and I’ll be back to pounding the streets with some longer runs in the (hopefully) cooler climate.”
It’s not the first time Stuart has taken on a challenge to raise money for a chosen charity. He’s previously supported Cancer Research UK, Mind, Penrith Mountain Rescue and the Stroke Association.
He said: “Most of the events have been half marathons, apart from last year when I raised money by doing two half marathons and an Everest basecamp trek.
“To date, I’ve raised £4,500 for various challenges. If I hit the target of £500 for Dementia UK, I’ll be at the £5,000 mark.”
Stuart is confident he will finish, but isn’t promising a personal best. He has raised £375 of his £500 target. Click here for the fundraising page.
