A Hartlepool runner's London Marathon mission for life-changing dementia treatments in memory of her dad

Angela Lawlor, 45, will tackle 26 miles of running on Sunday, October 4 but she will be swapping the iconic route through London for her own 26.2-mile race around the streets of Hartlepool.

She plans to support Alzheimer’s Research UK in memory of her father John Hall who lost his three-year fight with Alzheimer’s Disease and Mixed Type Dementia in September last year, aged 75.

Angela said: “My dad was such a loving, kind and generous man who would do anything for everyone. He worked as an electrician all his life, and only retired a year or so before we started to notice changes in his memory and behaviour.

"Dad’s condition deteriorated rapidly and was heartbreaking to watch someone who you love become dependent on the family for every day tasks. It robbed him of everything we loved about him.

"In his final weeks, dad was nursed by the amazing staff at Gretton Court Care Home in Hartlepool.”

The 40th London Marathon has become a virtual event after the iconic race around central London was cancelled for mass participant runners for 2020 due to restrictions around social distancing.

But Angela will still have plenty of support as she tackles her own marathon route around town.

Angela is a member of Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers and a few members will be supporting her on her journey which starts and finishes outside her home in the South Fens area.

They will be joining her at different stages to run five to six miles each as well as providing support and encouragement.

“My husband Simon has been training with me all through lockdown, and will be running the last 8 miles with me, ” said Angela.

“I was really disappointed the London Marathon was cancelled twice this year and last year I had to defer due to breaking my foot 8 weeks before the marathon.

"Training for this has kept me going through lockdown especially when things have felt tough”.

Angela is aiming to raise to raise £1,000 for ARUK. To sponsor her visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AngelaLawlor

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