Northampton student taking on running challenge to honour ‘loving’ dad who died from early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 41

A student from Northampton is tackling a running challenge to honour her dad who died from early onset Alzheimer’s and to raise money for a charity working to find a cure for the condition.

Beth Priddy, from Lumbertubs, will clock up a total of 52 miles in the month of March to recognise what would have been her father’s 52nd birthday on March 8.

Mark Priddy - Beth’s dad - died at the age of 41, when Beth was just 11, after suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s for around five years.

Now the 22-year-old, who studies politics and international studies at the University of Warwick, will honour her dad by finishing her challenge at Pitsford Reservoir, where his memorial bench is located.

Beth said: “When I look back now it seemed so normal and I just thought my dad was a bit silly, but he struggled day to day slowly towards being bed ridden.

“He was funny, loving and caring and it was painful to see a strong figure in your life go through that and for us to become the caregivers.

“There were a few years at the beginning when I didn’t know what was going on but there was also a time when we were confused and we weren’t as patient as we would have liked to have been.

“So I want to make sure our story does not get repeated, hopefully by some sort of treatment being found one day, which I know Alzheimer's Research UK is working on.”

Beth started running during the first lockdown last year and ran her first 5K on the tenth anniversary of her father’s death.

Now she is more than 22 miles into her most recent challenge, which will also raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Beth added: “It’s going to be a challenge as I have not run this far before, but I thought it would be good to go full circle with the running.

“I’ve sectioned it into three-miles stints to do four or five times a week.

“Then I will run the last mile with my sister to dad’s bench. As a family we used to cycle around Pitsford every Sunday so it was a great place to put dad’s bench.

“I was nervous about the challenge at the beginning but I’m excited too and it has been fun so far.

“And looking at my JustGiving page and all the support is motivating me to keep going.”

Beth has already raised nearly £2,000, which includes donations from people who used to know her dad and got in touch with her when they saw her fundraising efforts.

To support Beth and donate, visit her JustGiving page here.

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