Crowds welcome home marathon-running brothers

Almost 2,000 people have welcomed home two dementia campaigners, known as the FTD brothers, who recently completed 33 marathons in 33 days.

Jordan and Cian Adams have so far raised £1.94m in the process, to support research into frontotemporal dementia and families affected by the condition.

Jordan, 31, said he hoped their efforts would get more people talking about dementia and would "pour some positivity back into the world".

Cian, 26, said that he was pleased to come home and see the level of support in their home town, adding "the whole journey's been very surreal".

Jordan said they saw themselves as "just two normal lads" and they had just expected to get home and "return to normality".

But when they were approached about the idea of a homecoming party they had to recognise "the support of incredibly generous and kind local people in this town".

"I'm incredibly proud to be from Redditch," he said.

The pair both have the gene which can lead to frontotemporal dementia and which their mother, Geraldine, was diagnosed with before her death, aged 52.

Jordan said it meant he probably had the "best part of 14 years to make as much difference as possible" before dementia claimed his life.

"So I'm going to make this my life's work," he said.

Cian said: "You don't really have an option, you play the cards you're dealt as best you can and try and find some solace and some hope and some enjoyment within that life and I think we've done that."

The brothers started their challenge by running the London Marathon, carrying a fridge, before then continuing to complete a marathon in all 32 counties on the island of Ireland in the following 32 days.

Cian said it started as a challenge "to raise money and awareness for dementia", but it very quickly "became something far beyond that".

He said: "We had school children coming out and making signs, parents saying how they got children into running, or just open up about their own difficult situations."

"We're very grateful and as surprised by anyone with how far it's gone," he added.

Some people in Redditch have suggested the pair should get a knighthood, but Jordan said: "It's not about the titles, the glossy awards or even the monetary goal any more, our mission is about making dementia visible."

Jordan promised the pair would carry on campaigning for more awareness and more research funding.

He said: "Sadly, £1.9m as two working class lads from a small town of Redditch sounds huge, but in the grand scheme of things it's a drop in the ocean.

"We need far more from people in higher places than where we're from to move things forward."

The brothers' father, Glenn, said the journey around Ireland had been "very emotional".

"Talking about dementia in Ireland was a bit of a taboo subject, and we felt that it was a catalyst for allowing people to let go of some of their grief," he said.

He said he had no idea of the response they would get when they returned home and as well of being was very proud of his boys, he felt like they have had "a very powerful impact".

Speaking about the future, he said "I think it's important to live one day at a time.

"We know what's coming down the line and they're not living in blissful ignorance. They've seen what it does they know what's coming, but life is for living and it's about living now."

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