March 14 2019

A personal trainer from Marlborough is running three marathons in a month to raise money to support people living with dementia in Wiltshire.

Fitness instructor Henrietta MacKinnon is running the London Marathon in April and warming up with back to back marathons in Dorset as part of the Jurassic Coast Challenge on 23rd and 24th March. She hopes the triple challenge will raise at least £1,000 in sponsorship for Alzheimer’s Support.

Henrietta, who leads three of the charity’s Movement for the Mind groups in Wiltshire, said: “I have worked for Alzheimer’s Support for a year now and I know how much their community groups are valued by members. The charity is totally dependent on fundraising to support these groups and I wanted to do something to raise some extra funds.”

Henrietta, from East Grafton, first became interested in working with older people when she started running a seniors fitness group at Great Bedwyn. Just over a year ago she took over Alzheimer’s Support’s Movement for the Mind group at Devizes, and now she also leads the fortnightly groups at Mildenhall and Ludgershall.

She said: “Movement for the Mind is incredibly beneficial for the people who come along. The physical exercise, even when seated is very helpful but it is the camaraderie amongst the group that really lifts everyone’s spirits. It is so important for the carers too to have that time when they can just relax and enjoy themselves in a supportive group.”

Dementia touches lives

This is Henrietta’s 15^th London marathon, but the first time for many years that she has asked for donations. She said: “I can see how hard everyone is working at Alzheimer’s Support to help the Wiltshire community.  So many of us know someone will need these services. Dementia touches so many people’s lives.”

To sponsor Henrietta’s triple marathon challenge go to Hen's Triple Memory Marathon Challenge