A VETERAN runner - who started out in the sport to lose some weight - will be tackling his 19th marathon next weekend.

Keith Pullen, from Weymouth, is running the popular event for the fourth time and this time, he has chosen Dementia Revolution as his fundraising charity.

Mr Pullen said he chose the charity in memory of his mother, and other family members who have all been effected by dementia.

He added: "I started running in 2013 in an attempt to lose some weight, and later this month will be completing my 19th marathon. In this time I have received massive support from my running club, Egdon Heath Harriers and also from many friends in other local clubs and fellow Weymouth parkrunners.

"The Dementia Revolution is a special one-year campaign from Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK. The campaign is raising money for the most ambitious dementia research endeavour the UK has ever seen – the UK Dementia Research Institute. Someone in the UK develops this devastating condition every three minutes, which slowly strips people of their memories and identities – yet dementia research is still hugely underfunded compared to other terminal conditions."

Mr Pullen describes his start to running as 'a weight loss project that got seriously out of control' and writes his own blog at www.keithsmarathondream.co.uk

Nina Ziaullah, Dementia Revolution Campaign Manager, said: “Dementia is the biggest health threat facing society and there are currently no effective treatments to slow, prevent or cure it. Today, almost a million people are living with dementia in the UK. “But dementia is not a lost cause. With the help of our amazing runners we can and will end it with research. “On marathon day we will have the largest ever team of runners raising funds for dementia research. We can’t thank them enough for making a stand with us and joining the charge toward a cure.”

Mr Pullen has already raised an incredible £1,700 towards his fundraising goal. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/keithsdementialondon

For further information about the Dementia Revolution, go to www.dementiarevolution.org