Fundraiser to take on challenge in aid of Leeds United Foundation
Local man to raise money in aid of dementia charities.
A local Leeds man will start a 96-mile run from Elland Road to the Stadium of Light on Sunday 25th September to raise funds for the Leeds United Foundation and Action on Dementia Sunderland.
To celebrate his 60th birthday, Allan Surtees has set himself a gruelling Run for Home Challenge – which involves completing a half-marathon every day for a week as he makes his way between the two stadiums during World Alzheimers month in September 2022.
The 59-year-old grandad from Robin Hood has strong ties to both clubs, having lived in Leeds for 30 years after growing up in the Northeast as a Sunderland supporter.
Allan came up with the challenge as a tribute to his dad, also Allan, who died in November 2020 as a result of advanced dementia and other complications.
He witnessed first-hand how his dad deteriorated over a period of time to the point where he did not recognise family and close friends and forgot simple functions like dressing himself.
Allan explained: "He would go for a walk and then get lost, forgetting where he was or why he had gone somewhere in the first place.
"There is nothing worse than seeing a loved one lose those particular functions of the brain and more needs to be done to diagnose the condition earlier, find more effective treatments and educate people on how best to deal with family or friends with Dementia."
His mother, Shirley, also has dementia and is now in a care home near Sunderland so she can be looked after properly.
Allan thought long and hard about what he could do before coming up with the idea of running from Leeds to Sunderland and he recently paid a visit to one of the Leeds United Foundation health and wellbeing programmes, Fit Generations, that works with people who are suffering with dementia and their carers.
Allan would like to raise as much money as possible for the two charities to try and help combat the horrible disease and support anyone who has been affected by dementia.
You can find details of his challenge and make a donation on the links below, no matter how small, all donations will be greatly appreciated;
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/allan-surtees-action-on-dementia-sunderland
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/allan-surtees-leeds-united-foundation
For any further information or if you would like to support Allan during his challenge in any other way, he can be contacted via email at allansurteesrunforhome@btinternet.com.
