Cork friends to run from top to bottom of Ireland to raise funds for dementia

A group of Cork men are to take part in a 450km continuous relay run from the top to the bottom of Ireland to raise funds for improved facilities for patients of young onset and frontotemporal dementia.

Frontotemporal dementia is a form of dementia which affects people at a much younger age in life than people expect.

Rather than memory being impacted at first, frontotemporal dementia affects a person’s behaviour, personality, communication, and decision-making, all of which while still appearing healthy and fit.

The Miles for Memory run, which will take place in May, is in aid of a cause close to each of the participants’ hearts.

Shane Cronin, his brother Scott, and four of Shane’s close friends — Cian Leonard, Jack Leonard, Cian Hawkins, and Evan Hourigan — will take part in the run.

Shane, who is currently based in the US and works as a men’s soccer coach at Nashville’s Trevecca University, told The Echo: “While my dad was suffering from this horrible condition, my family noticed there are not enough facilities in Ireland for young dementia patients, specifically frontotemporal dementia and young onset dementia patients.

“Instead of allowing dementia to take away memories, we want to help families to create future memories with their loved ones while they can,” Mr Cronin said.

“I was on the bus home from a soccer game, coming back from Alabama. I was thinking, and got an idea that I want to do something to raise funds.

“I just wanted to create something where we could give back, in a way. So that is the goal, helping to just put facilities in place if we can,” Mr Cronin said.

“All of the funds raised will go directly to frontotemporal dementia and young onset dementia initiatives.”

Shane said his father spent the final four weeks of his life in a hospital room that did not have a window.

“That was something that was not only difficult for us, but you could tell it was extremely difficult for him. That is because he didn’t want to be in there. This is why the run means so much to us.”

“All of the lads were really close with my dad. We grew up living 15ft away from Cian and Jack. My cousin Evan was obviously also close to my dad.

“Cian was a barman down in St Vincent’s GAA Club, where my dad would have a pint, and he got to know him down there.

“Everyone in the run had a solid relationship with my dad.

“He was very close to all of them, and he looked out for them. Cian called my dad his second dad.

“They didn’t have a direct relationship with dementia in their own families. They were just very close to my dad.”

Further information on Miles for Memory can be found at eclv.ie/dementia-run