Brothers' 33-Marathon Mission for Dementia Awareness
In an extraordinary feat of endurance and love, brothers Jordan and Cian Adams are running 33 marathons in 33 days to raise £1 million for frontotemporal dementia (FTD) research. Their gruelling challenge, which included the Belfast City Marathon as its eighth leg, is a deeply personal one. Both brothers carry the MAPT gene mutation — a faulty version of the microtubule-associated protein tau gene — giving them a near-certain 99.9% chance of developing the same aggressive terminal disease that claimed their mother Geraldine's life at the age of 52, and has taken 12 other relatives across Ireland.
Background
Frontotemporal dementia is the most common form of dementia in people under the age of 60, yet it remains far less understood by the public than Alzheimer's disease. It is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the progressive atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, leading to profound changes in behaviour, personality, and language. There is currently no cure, and no treatment can slow its progression. The lifetime risk of developing FTD is estimated at approximately 1 in 742, but for those carrying a dominant genetic mutation like MAPT, the risk is near-absolute.
Around 40% of FTD cases have a family history of neurodegenerative disease, and in 15–40% of cases a specific genetic mutation can be identified. For Jordan, 30, and Cian, 25, from Redditch, Worcestershire, the diagnosis is not a possibility but a near-certainty. Their mother Geraldine, who was incredibly proud of her Irish heritage with family roots in Leitrim and Longford, began showing symptoms in her mid-40s and passed away in 2016. The brothers are expected to face the same trajectory in their own mid-to-late 40s.
Rather than retreating from this grim reality, the Adams brothers founded the FTD Brothers Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness, supporting research, and advocating for families affected by dementia. Their fundraising goal of £1 million is as ambitious as it is urgent — they are, in a very real sense, racing against time.
Key Developments
The challenge began in spectacular fashion at the London Marathon, where Jordan ran the full 26.2 miles with a 25kg fridge strapped to his back — a powerful symbol of the invisible burden of grief and genetic illness, made "unavoidably visible." Immediately after, he travelled to Belfast to begin the main challenge: 32 consecutive marathons across every county in Ireland, with Cian cycling alongside him for support.
The Belfast City Marathon was the eighth leg of the Irish series, and the brothers were met at the start line by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, bringing significant local attention to their cause. Their participation drew widespread media coverage from the BBC, The Irish Times, and local outlets across Ireland. A significant portion of the funds raised is being donated to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland to support daycare, home care, and family support services, with the remainder going to the FTD Brothers Foundation's own research and awareness initiatives. They have already raised over £400,000 through their endurance challenges.
Why It Matters
The FTD Brothers' story matters because it puts a human face on a disease that is chronically underfunded and poorly understood. While Alzheimer's disease dominates public discourse on dementia, frontotemporal dementia devastates families in a distinctly cruel way — striking people in the prime of their working lives, robbing them of personality and language before physical decline sets in. For families like the Adams', the genetic dimension adds another layer of anguish: watching a parent die while knowing you carry the same mutation is a burden few can comprehend. Jordan has spoken openly about his struggles with depression and the weight of his circumstances, yet he continues to run — not despite his diagnosis, but because of it. Their mission is to ensure that the research and support services that were not available to their mother's generation are there for the next.
Local Impact
Belfast's hosting of the eighth marathon in the brothers' Irish series was more than a logistical waypoint — it was a moment of genuine community solidarity. The city's running culture, energised by the annual Belfast City Marathon, provided a natural home for a challenge of this scale and emotional weight. Northern Ireland has its own significant dementia challenge: Alzheimer's Society estimates suggest around 22,000 people in Northern Ireland are living with dementia, a figure projected to rise sharply in coming decades. The FTD Brothers' visit shone a light on the need for greater investment in dementia research and support services in the North, where provision remains patchy and underfunded relative to need.
What's Next
With the 33-marathon challenge complete, Jordan and Cian Adams will continue their advocacy work through the FTD Brothers Foundation, pushing for greater research funding and public awareness of genetic forms of dementia. Their £1 million fundraising target remains the immediate goal, and supporters can follow their journey and donate through their social media channels and GoFundMe page. For two brothers running toward an uncertain future, every mile and every pound raised is a statement of defiance — and of hope. Sources: BBC News — Hope keeps driving marathon dementia brothers on; Donegal Daily — Brothers bringing dementia marathon challenge to Donegal.
