Ben Martin (Managing Director of Just Watches) is training to run the 2010 Gold Coast marathon. The run is to promote awareness and raise fund for Alzheimer’s Australia, a cause very close to my heart. My grandmother passed away on 31st July 2008 after suffering from Alzheimer’s for numerous years, the run will be in her memory.

I started running in March 2009 after almost no exercise for the best part of a decade and completed the 10km run in 1:09:47, the goal is the full marathon (42km) in 2010.

We welcome all donations (100% of proceeds will be donated to The Hazel Hawke Alzheimer's Research and Care Fund). I have chosen The Hazel Hawke Alzheimer's Research and Care Fund as this not only supports the necessary research required to find a better understanding of causes of Alzheimer’s, better understanding of the disease process, prevention or delay of Alzheimer’s, development of a cure for Alzheimer’s or a way to slow down the progress of the disease, finding the best ways of caring for people with Alzheimer’s and supporting their families and carers.

One of the hardest aspects we found in experiencing my grandmothers Alzheimer’s was witnessing the demise of my grandmother’s memory and her understanding of the events and people around her. My grandmother was a fiercely independent woman all of her life and it was devastating to all of us to see her suffer. We witnessed her slowly progress through the stages of increased memory loss, forgetting to do the basic tasks of showering, eating and drinking. The hardest and longest night of my life was spent in the middle of winter looking for her after she wandered off in the afternoon. As night approached police used patrol cars, the dog squad and a police helicopter in an attempt to find her but were unable to find her until 3am in the morning. We were fortunate that she was found and I cannot imagine what it is like for those families that never find their missing loved ones. These times are why I have chosen The Hazel Hawke Alzheimer's Research and Care Fund to donate all proceeds from my run in the hope that one day a cure will be found and in the meantime families and carers can have the best possible support available to them.

The Hazel Hawke Alzheimer's Research and Care Fund has been established at the expressed wish of Hazel Hawke who has chosen to make public the fact that she is living with Alzheimer's disease. When you make a donation to this Fund you will be directly contributing to the care of those with Alzheimer’s, their families, carers and care workers and helping in the search to find a cure for this disease that currently affects over 500 000 Australians. By making a donation you are adding your support to that of a great Australian who has contributed so much to our country.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a physical disease which affects the brain resulting in impaired memory, thinking and behaviour.

As brain cells die, the substance of the brain shrinks. Abnormal material builds up as tangles in the centre of the brain cells and plaques outside the brain cells, disrupting messages within the brain, damaging connections between brain cells. Chemical changes also occur in the brain. This leads to the eventual death of the brain cells.

Memory of recent events is the first to be affected, but as the disease progresses, long term memory is also lost. The disease also affects many of the brain’s other functions and consequently many other aspects of the person's functioning are disturbed.

For more information on Alzheimer’s visit www.alzheimers.org.au