TeamAlzheimers.org - ALZHEIMER'S BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER

TeamA's "Long Distance" Runner

TeamAlzheimers has been very proud to have runners from all over the country. This year we even have a runner from the United Kingdom! Gavin has graciously offered us a little insight into why he has chosen to "cross the pond" to be a part of TeamAlzheimers.

Hi! I am Gavin Stoddart, and I live in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, UK. So - how come I am running for TeamAlzheimers in the Covered Bridges Half Marathon, supporting the sufferers from Alzheimers in Upper Valley, Vermont?? Well – perhaps a bit unusual, but the answer is really quite simple…

Anyone can develop dementia; everyone can do something to fight it! My wife’s Aunt Betty, a retired Primary School teacher, looked after our three children when they were small – they loved going to her, she always had something planned for them, come rain or shine. But as the years passed it became obvious that she was no longer ‘with it’. Her house became untidy and full of rubbish, she was confused, she began to hallucinate, she could no longer prepare meals. I vividly remember our meeting her one day in Burnham-on-Sea walking down the street ‘going to catch the bus’; the bus stop was in the other direction, and she had no idea where she was. Eventually she went into a residential home, and was looked after really well by her carers – she was lucky, always cheerful, even though she had no idea in the end who anyone was, nor what was going on around her.

And why Vermont? Well, Alzheimers has touched my near family there too. My brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Hazel, live in Woodstock, and her sister Anne lives in Sharon. Their mother Evelyn, once vibrant, developed Alzheimers. For several years she became more and more confused and unsettled, slowly losing touch with reality. She was dedicatedly looked after by her husband Bob – himself elderly and frail – with help from their family, to everyone’s great distress at her suffering and the huge task her husband willingly undertook. Alzheimer's could affect any of us. When it does strike, I believe the most helpful thing we can do is support the victims’ carers, give them respite if possible, and help them maintain their morale.

I enjoy running, and am lucky to have several excellent local runs across the Somerset hills, fields and beaches. My wife Mags and I jog most weekends, accompanied by Tutu, our border terrier. I have twice managed to run a half marathon. The first was the Bristol half marathon when Mags and I got round in 2 hours 24 minutes. The second was the Burnham-on-Sea half, which goes past our front door. I managed 2 hours and 48 seconds – so my target for the CBHM is 1 hour 59 minutes or anything better !

Vermont has some of the nicest countryside I have visited – rolling wooded hills with broad river valleys – and nothing too huge. More importantly, everytime I have visited I have been made to feel welcome – regretfully not something that happens everywhere in the world. I have cycled some of the half marathon course along the Ottauqueechee valley, and crossed the covered bridges! I am really looking forwards to joining everyone on the day – enjoying the event, the people, the countryside, and supporting those in the community who need our help.