London Marathon: Sue Strachan wants to 'challenge perceptions' of dementia by running marathon
"My ability to do mental arithmetic is gone, my concentration levels are very low and my sense of direction has gone. I tend to repeat myself a lot and I get very tired."
Sue Strachan, 62, was diagnosed with vascular dementia - a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the brain - in September 2014.
But on Sunday, 22 April, Sue will be running the London Marathon as she continues her "mission to challenge people's perceptions" of the illness by showing that dementia will not hold her back from finishing the 26.2-mile route.
After her diagnosis she was told by her doctor that keeping fit and exercising could help manage her symptoms.
Sue's training has been going well but her illness does throw up some challenges.
"One of the questions people always ask me when they hear I'm training for a marathon is do I ever get lost when I'm out running," she explains.
"I have to ensure I plot my routes before I go. I stick to the same routes around where I live. I know all the landmarks, but I often can't remember the order they come in.
"However, I've only got lost once so far and although it was upsetting I got re-orientated and made my way home okay."
With dementia affecting around 850,000 people in the United Kingdom, and vascular dementia the second most common form, Sue will be running for the Alzheimer's Research charity.
"I want to do as much as possible while I am still able, to raise awareness of dementia and fundraise for research in the hope that one day there will be a cure for this awful disease."
read more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/get-inspired/43796616
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