Leitrim man to walk 1 million steps for his brother in aid of Alzheimer’s research

A Drumreilly man will walk one million steps in a fundraising drive for Alzheimer's/Dementia Research in the UK in honour of his brother who has dementia.

Hugh Maguire and his brother Sean both live in the UK. Sean is 70 and has dementia.

Hugh decided to set himself a challenge to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research as he has seen the devastating impact of dementia on his younger brother Sean.

Alzheimer's is a horrible degenerative condition that affects almost every aspect of the human body and a cure is a long way off. While medication to slow down its progression is too late for his brother, new treatments should provide massive benefits to quality of life for future generations.

Sean, Susan and Mick in Carrick-on-Shannon in July 2021.

Hugh said, “I’m prompted to undertake the challenge of completing 1 million steps by the end of July 2023 as I have seen my younger brother Sean experience the devastating impact of dementia.

“As there is still no cure for this awful disease, I want to do what I can to help so that the symptoms for people like my brother in the future may be delayed or offset entirely as understanding of good care and treatment improves.

“For those not familiar with dementia and what it means, it is a general term for a decline in mental ability, severe enough to interfere with everyday life.

“Symptoms include: memory loss; being confused about time and place, even being confused about the people closest to you; struggling with and eventually unable to follow conversation or finding the right word; mood changes; finding it hard to carry out daily tasks such as shopping, getting confused over the correct change, or getting dressed.

“This leads to a total loss of independence and an inability to be part of ordinary life with loved ones, friends and the wider community. It’s a frightening and heartbreaking sentence.

“Sean was always active in his community and loves his family dearly. He loved going dancing and cycling with friends and getting involved, having jokes, travelling home to see his family in Ireland and having a social drink and chat down the pub with family and friends. He is a man with a great sense of humour and so much joy.

“He is so very loved and yet quality of life with dementia is extremely challenging and eventually impossible as symptoms take hold of all cognitive ability.

Sean and Robert at the London v Leitrim match in Ruislip in 2022.

“While I am grateful that he is now receiving proper care, able to have visits from family and friends, but having dementia is a long lonely road.

“It is hard to accept the heartbreaking impact dementia has had on him, his family, and all of us who love him.

“Thank you for your support to Alzheimer’s /Dementia Research UK. I hope that you will help me reach my target of £1,000, and maybe even go beyond! I will be so grateful for any amount you can give.”

Please donate to Alzheimer’s/Dementia Research UK via https://www.justgiving.com/page/hugh