Brothers on Course to Smash One Million Pound Dementia Fundraising Goal at Belfast Marathon
Two brothers running the Belfast City Marathon as part of an extraordinary challenge to complete 32 marathons in 32 counties in 32 days were on course to smash their £1 million fundraising target for dementia research on Sunday — a feat of endurance and love that has captured the hearts of supporters across Ireland and beyond.
Background
Jordan and Cian Adams, known as the FTD Brothers, are running to raise awareness and funds for Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), a devastating condition that their late mother suffered from and which both brothers carry the genetic mutation for. FTD is a form of dementia that primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, causing changes in personality, behaviour, and language. It typically affects people at a younger age than Alzheimer's disease, often striking in a person's 40s, 50s, or 60s, and it progresses rapidly.
The brothers' challenge — 32 marathons in 32 counties in 32 days — is a feat of extraordinary physical and emotional endurance. Each marathon covers 26.2 miles, meaning the brothers are running over 800 miles in total across the island of Ireland. The challenge takes them through every county on the island, from Antrim to Cork, from Donegal to Wexford, connecting communities and raising awareness of a condition that remains less well-known than other forms of dementia despite its devastating impact on families.
The brothers' story has resonated deeply with people across Ireland and beyond, touching on universal themes of family love, loss, and the determination to find meaning in the face of tragedy. Their fundraising campaign, which set an initial target of £1 million, has attracted donations from thousands of supporters, many of whom have their own experience of dementia in their families.
Key Developments
The Belfast City Marathon on Sunday 3 May 2026 was one of the key milestones in the brothers' 32-county challenge. Running through the streets of Belfast — past the Shankill Road, the Falls Road, Andersonstown, and the city centre — they were cheered on by thousands of spectators who had followed their journey across Ireland. Belfast Live reported that the brothers were on course to smash their £1 million fundraising target, a remarkable achievement that reflects the depth of public support for their cause.
The brothers are not alone in their fundraising efforts at the Belfast Marathon. George Strong and Nick Marshall broke a world record for Prostate Cancer UK, finishing in 3:42 while wearing a 13.5kg full-body screw costume. Former professional boxer Ryan Burnett ran with a weight equivalent to his former coach Ricky Hatton's fighting weight, raising money for a mental health charity. St Anne's Primary School marked its 70th anniversary by having 70 of its runners participate in the event.
Why It Matters
The FTD Brothers' challenge matters because it puts a human face on a condition that is often invisible in public discourse. Frontotemporal Dementia affects an estimated 16,000 people in the UK, and the number is likely to grow as the population ages. Unlike Alzheimer's disease, which has benefited from decades of public awareness campaigns and significant research investment, FTD remains relatively unknown outside the medical community and the families it affects. The brothers' challenge is changing that, bringing FTD to the attention of a national audience and raising funds that will support research into treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
The challenge also speaks to something deeper about the human capacity for resilience and love. Jordan and Cian Adams are not professional athletes — they are two brothers who have faced the prospect of carrying the same genetic mutation that took their mother, and who have chosen to respond not with despair but with action. That choice, and the physical and emotional demands it places on them, is genuinely inspiring.
Local Impact
For Belfast and Northern Ireland, the FTD Brothers' presence at the city marathon was a moment of genuine community pride. The brothers ran through neighbourhoods that have their own complex histories — the Falls Road, the Shankill Road, Andersonstown — and were cheered by people from all backgrounds. The Alzheimer's Society Northern Ireland and other dementia charities in the province have welcomed the brothers' challenge as a powerful boost to awareness of dementia in all its forms. Dementia affects an estimated 22,000 people in Northern Ireland, and the FTD Brothers' fundraising will support research that could benefit patients and families across the province.
What's Next
The FTD Brothers continue their 32-county challenge, with further marathons scheduled across Ireland in the coming weeks. Their fundraising page remains open for donations. The brothers have indicated they will use the platform their challenge has created to advocate for increased research funding for Frontotemporal Dementia and for better support services for families affected by the condition. Updates on their progress are available through their social media channels and the Belfast Live website.
Sources: Belfast Live — Belfast City Marathon 2026; BBC News — Belfast City Marathon
