Dinosaur marathon runner aspires to make dementia extinct

A 32-year-old teacher will be completing the Cardiff Half Marathon dressed as ‘Deano the Dementiasaurus’.

An English teacher for international students at Cardiff University, Sam Evans is a keen runner in his spare time.

As a parkrun volunteer and run director at Cardiff Junior parkrun, Sam has a strong reputation as a runner, so he knew he would have to do something out of the ordinary for the upcoming half marathon.

The perfect opportunity arose when a teacher friend discovered a dinosaur costume in her stock cupboard, which Sam will wear on 2 October when he runs the Cardiff Half Marathon for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

The ‘Dementiasaurus’ costume has certainly made his runs harder than usual. Sam said: “The tail trips me up, the head smashes into my shoulders, and the mesh mask grates my face.

“It’s also incredibly hot and difficult to breathe. But with a few costume modifications and some more training, I’m sure I can do it!”

Raising awareness of a cause close to home

The Cardiff-based teacher will be raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, a cause which became close to his heart three years ago when his mother’s cousin was diagnosed with the disease.

Angela Wilkinson, now 70, receives 24-hour care in a residential home in her home town, Barrow-in-Furness. Her memory, behaviour and communication have all been affected by the disease, which has left her barely able to speak.

As her only living relatives, Sam and his mother do everything they can to ensure she is cared for, with Sam’s mother having put her retirement plans on hold to help her cousin.

Sam said: “Having seen the severe impact dementia can have on individuals, I think it is one of the most terrifying fortunes anyone could face, yet there is still so much that we don’t know about this condition.

“Dementia research is vital so that we can find out more information about the causes and possible methods of prevention or treatment.

“Until we can find a way to prevent or even cure dementia, a huge proportion of people will be affected by it at some stage of their life. Despite this, there are still many misconceptions about dementia – this needs to change and I hope Deano will help me to raise much-needed awareness.”

Sam has already raised almost £600 to date, far exceeding his initial fundraising target of £350.

Kenneth Foreman, sporting events manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We can’t thank Sam enough – not only for running the Cardiff Half Marathon for us but for doing it while wearing a dinosaur costume! It is only through generous fundraising and donations that we can continue to power the most promising dementia research across the country – bringing us closer to a future without the heartbreak of dementia.”

Alzheimer’s Research UK specialises in finding preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia, and is currently supporting dementia research projects worth over £33m in leading UK universities. The charity relies on donations to fund its vital research.