Jordan Adams, one half of The FTD Brothers, completed the London Marathon carrying a 25kg fridge on his back. Just hours later, he was flying to Ireland to begin an extraordinary challenge of running 32 marathons in 32 days across all 32 counties.

Now, just 10 days into that journey, The FTD Brothers have raised £1m before Early-Onset Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) claims their lives.

Jordan and younger brother Cian both carry the faulty MAPT gene that leads to Frontotemporal Dementia. They lost their mother to the same disease at just 52. They continue to inspire supporters across the world as Jordan runs a full marathon (26.2 miles) every day for 32 days, covering all 32 counties of Ireland.

FTD Brothers: making dementia visible

This latest milestone marks a major moment in their mission not only to raise funds, but to make dementia visible and impossible to ignore.

Since the initial announcement of the challenge, support has surged, helping Jordan and The FTD Brothers exceed their ambitious £1m fundraising goal far earlier than expected.

Jordan said:

Back in 2018 I made a commitment to go on a journey to make dementia visible, to build a legacy for our family, but never did I imagine what was to come. Back in 2023 we set a target to raise £1m before dementia took our lives, but we honestly thought it would take a lifetime to achieve it.

We want to thank everyone both locally in Redditch where it all started, those who have engaged in our online community and now supported our latest campaign in Ireland. But more than the money, we are proud to have inspired millions of people, and this is just the start.

Cian Adams, the other half of The FTD Brothers, who is supporting Jordan throughout his current challenge as his physio, added:

We set the lifetime goal of £1m when we learnt that we shared our genetic circumstance in 2023. We are so proud, as a family, to have achieved that already, quicker than we could ever have imagined. Clearly the devastation of a dementia diagnosis resonates with so many.

We are extremely grateful to every single person who has engaged with this campaign. Whether that be through a donation, interacting with posts, or engaging with us in London or Ireland.

Jordan’s London Marathon feat, running the full course while carrying a 25kg fridge, captured huge attention ahead of the Irish challenge. And it’s set the tone for what has become one of the most physically and emotionally powerful fundraising campaigns in recent memory.

Now well over a week into the challenge, Jordan continues to push through immense physical demands while honouring his late mother and 12 Irish relatives who all lost their lives to FTD.

Frontotemporal Dementia is a lesser-known but devastating condition that often affects people under the age of 65. It can create enormous emotional, financial, and practical challenges for families.

Jordan is now in his 30s. He expects to develop FTD in his 40s. But he says of his fundraising efforts:

My dream is to save my little brother’s life from FTD. I believe it is possible.

Through every mile, Jordan’s message remains clear: making dementia visible.

Although they’ve shot past the £1m target, The FTD Brothers’ campaign continues, with ongoing fundraising efforts both for the FTD Foundation dedicated to supporting awareness, advocacy and families impacted by dementia, and for Alzheimer’s Society Ireland.

Featured image via FTD Brothers

By The Canary

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