Dementia UK, the specialist dementia nursing charity, has been chosen as charity partner of the year for Birmingham Running Festival.

The event, which is taking place on Sunday 21 May in the picturesque Sutton Park, will offer participants the chance to take on 5k, 10k, and half marathon routes.

Dementia UK is inviting people in the West Midlands to take part in the event and help support families affected by dementia.

The charity’s specialist dementia nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide life-changing support and guidance for families affected by all forms of dementia in communities, hospitals and hospices, on the free national Dementia Helpline, and in clinics.

26-year-old Bethany Grice who lives in Telford is one participant who has been inspired to take on her first half marathon by her nan who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2022.

Bethany said: “My family has really had to learn to adapt quickly to care for her. No one ever gives you a brief on how to care for someone living with dementia. It’s been a turbulent time. I’ve grown up being close to my grandparents and living with them for a proportion of my life. I lost my grandad back in 2014 and I’m slowly losing my nan now. She doesn’t know me but she still gives me the biggest hug every time she sees me, and I really hold onto that.

“It’s hard to put into words just how I’m feeling about taking this challenge on. There are going to be parts of the race I’ll absolutely love and parts that I’ll find difficult - but that pain is only temporary. I think it doesn’t even come close to the physical or emotional pain people living with dementia and their family members go through on a regular basis just to get through each day. That’s the reason why I am determined to help raise awareness and vital funds for Dementia UK.”

Dementia is a huge and growing health crisis and there are currently over 900,000 people living with the condition in the UK. This number is expected to rise to 1.1m by 2025.

Registration for the run is £25.00 and we are asking our supporters to raise £350.00 with the support of a dedicated event manager. To sign up for the Birmingham Running Festival, visit: dementiauk.org/birmingham-running-festival