Redditch’s FTD Brothers reach £1mil mark in fundraising challenge

JUST TWO weeks into their All Ireland challenge, Redditch’s FTD Brothers have passed the £1million mark on their fundraising mission for Alzheimer’s UK.

Jordan and Cian, who have both been diagnosed with the faulty MAPT gene that leads to Frontotemporal Dementia, lost their mother to the same disease at just 52.

Despite this devastating reality, the brothers have dedicated themselves to fundraising and awareness for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Jordan and Cian started the challenge in London, with Jordan running the marathon with a 25kg fridge on his back.

He set to show people that ‘no matter what they carry, they don’t have to carry it alone’.

Since the initial announcement of the challenge, support has surged, helping Jordan and Cian exceed their ambitious £1million fundraising goal far earlier than expected.

Jordan said: “Back in 2018 I made a commitment to go on a journey to make dementia visible, to build a legacy for our family, but never did I imagine what was to come.  Back in 2023 we set a target to raise £1 million before dementia took our lives, but we honestly thought it would take a lifetime to achieve it.

“We want to thank everyone both locally in Redditch where it all started, those who have engaged in our online community and now supported our latest campaign in Ireland. But more than the money, we are proud to have inspired millions of people, and this is just the start.”

Cian Adams, the other half of The FTD Brothers, who is supporting Jordan throughout his current challenge as his physio, added, “We set the lifetime goal of £1million when we learnt that we shared our genetic circumstance in 2023.

“We are so proud, as a family, to have achieved that already, quicker than we could ever have imagined. Clearly the devastation of a dementia diagnosis resonates with so many.

“We are extremely grateful to every single person who has engaged with this campaign. Whether that be through a donation, interacting with posts, or engaging with us in London or Ireland.”

This week they have covered Dundalk, Navan, Cavan, Enniskillen and are running in Sligo today.

Now over a week into the challenge, Jordan continues to push through immense physical demands while honouring his late mother and 12 Irish relatives who all lost their lives to FTD.

Although the £1million target has been surpassed, The FTD Brothers’ campaign continues, with ongoing fundraising efforts for the FTD Foundation dedicated to supporting awareness, advocacy, and families impacted by dementia and Alzheimer’s Society Ireland.

Visit www.gofundme.com/f/theftdbrothers to donate.