Llangollen man and son in double triathlon challenge for dementia charity

* John Palmer, left, and son Nic are in training for their double triathlon challenge.

A Llangollen man and his son are planning to each do a triathlon in memory of the their wife and mother who died from the effects of dementia earlier this year.

John Palmer and his son Nic, who lives in Glyndyfrdwy, are looking for sponsors for their tough double challenge early next month.

In their joint gofundme page, which is already attracting steady support, Nic says: "Mum died earlier this year after succumbing to the long terms effects of dementia. 

"This despicable condition robbed her of her love for life and us of a wife, mum and nain.

"As a family, we have always enjoyed spending lots of time outdoors and finding adventures.

"Dad and I decided to take on a challenge in mum's memory and have signed up to each do a triathlon to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK in the hope that one day this awful condition can be eradicated."

Nic goes on: "On September 3rd, Dad will be doing a sprint triathlon at Ellesmere and I will be doing the Bala Standard Triathlon at Bala Lake on the same day.

"Thank you in advance for your contribution and we are training hard to do Mum proud."

Nic is going to be doing an Olympic triathlon which consists of a I.5 km swim followed by a 40 km bike ride and a 10 km run.

John, in deference to his age, is taking on a speed triathlon which is a 7.5 km in Ellesmere lake followed by a 25 km bike ride and a 5 km run.

He said: "In march of this year my wife Lyn and Nic’s mother died from dementia.  

"While she died peacefully holding my hand she was first diagnosed in 2013.  

"More and more people and their families are living with dementia. We want to raise money for Alzheimers Research to help find a way of finding a cure for the disease.

"Training is going pretty well. Most of the swimming has been in a pool but more recently we have been swimming in Lyn Tegid, which came as a bit of a shock - wetsuits essential.  

"Cycling has given me a sore bum. How the Tour de France guys do it day after day amazes me.  

"I run quite regularly anyway so that is not so much of a problem but of course that remains to be seen on the day.  I'm sure the dog will be glad when it’s over."

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. 

It funds world-class pioneering scientists to find preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia.

* To sponsor Nic and John, their gofundme page is at: https://gofund.me/99c861be