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'Mind-blowing support' for marathon brothers

Tammy Gooding,BBC Hereford & Worcesterand
Andrew Dawkins,West Midlands
Liam McBurney/PA Wire Two men with brown hair and either side of a woman with brown hair who is wearing a red top. The man on the left is in a light green T-shirt and the man on the right is wearing a darker green top.Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Jordan Adams (left) and brother Cian (right) pictured with their mum's cousin, Mary Breslin, who lives in County Longford

Two brothers who are running a marathon a day for a month across all counties of Ireland have said they have seen "mind-blowing" support.

Jordan and Cian Adams, known as the FTD Brothers, lost their mum Geraldine to frontotemporal dementia aged 52 and have inherited the gene that caused it.

It had taken them "between 30 and 40 minutes each day just to get round having photos with everyone before we set off to start", Jordan said.

"We want to give people our time," he added. The brothers, from Redditch, Worcestershire, have raised more than £1.2m for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and their non-profit FTD Brothers Foundation.

The pair, who are both at risk of getting dementia in their 40s, took part in last month's London Marathon before going to Ireland.

Tuesday marks the halfway point, ahead of the finale in Dublin on 28 May.

Jordan said over 16 days, probably about three times they had had "over 1,000 people at the start line".

Laura-Mary Carter/FTD Brothers A large crowd, going from bottom left to the right, is watching one of the brothers who is on the left. Buildings are in the background. Laura-Mary Carter/FTD Brothers
Support had been "mind-blowing", the brothers said

"We've had probably six or seven schools each day line the streets in the weekdays and cheer us on.

"Care homes and hospital staff come out and yeah it's just mind-blowing the support we [have] received."

Liam McBurney/PA Wire Jordan Adams is in a light green T-shirt in the middle of the photo, with dozens of people looking towards him. Trees are in the background from left to right on the image.Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Jordan Adams (centre) previously draped a County Louth flag over his shoulders during the fundraising efforts in Ireland

The brothers have also lost 12 Irish relatives to the same condition, including their grandmother and aunt.

Jordan said his mum "had a beautiful gift of being able to leave her presence in every room she ever entered" and gave people her time generously, "particularly those who were in need".

"That's what we want to do. A lot of the people who are coming out are making sacrifices to support us, are people who have felt the heartache and devastation of dementia," he said.

"We don't want to just start running off straight away. We want to give people our time."

He added they were "just two normal lads trying to connect with other people who have experienced what we have and make them feel less alone".

Laura-Mary Carter/FTD Brothers Runners going from left to right on the photo are all facing the camera. Bushes are either side of the road that they are on.Laura-Mary Carter/FTD Brothers
They are due to finish their challenge in Dublin on 28 May

The Prince of Wales praised the brothers in a letter they received on day 14.

Jordan said "one thing that we did have a laugh... about is the fact that we're big Birmingham City fans".

"So to have that off a Villa fan, we'll let him off.

"But, no, it was an absolute pleasure to receive that from Prince William and we're very grateful for his support."

Laura-Mary Carter/FTD Brothers Two men in light green T-shirts are holding a letter. They are looking at the camera and dominate the image, with bushes in the background.Laura-Mary Carter/FTD Brothers
The brothers were delighted to receive a letter of support from Prince William

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