TURNING PAIN INTO POWER

Something extraordinary is happening in Ireland as the country falls in love with two brothers and the lengths they are travelling to raise awareness about dementia and generate over a million for research into the condition.

Jordan and Cian Adams, better known as the FTD Brothers, took Monaghan by storm last Friday and tomorrow (Wednesday) are set to send Cavan into a frenzy.

Cavan Route

The two incredible young men from Redditch, England, are undertaking ’33 Marathons in 33 Days’ as part of their make dementia visible campaign, which is resonating deeply with everyone who has ever lost someone before they were physically gone.

Jordan and Cian, the FTD Brothers, are themselves navigating the route through Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), having lost their beloved Irish mother Geraldine Marie Adams (née Kennedy), to the hereditary condition ten years ago.

The Anglo-Celt was in Monaghan on Friday for day five of the challenge to share in the joyous scenes, as clubs, schools, businesses and community members showed their support by lining the streets.

While there are only 32 counties in Ireland, Jordan and Cian kicked off their campaign with the London Marathon in which Jordan ran with a fridge on his back in blistering heat.

Before they set off for their Monaghan leg at 10am on Friday morning, Cian was asked about the running conditions in the Farney county: “Much better than we’ve had, Donegal was a scorcher. Yesterday in Omagh was a bit too hot for my brother. He has caught the sun more than he would have on an all-inclusive holiday in Mexico,” he laughed.

Speaking after the marathon on Friday at Peter’s Lake, Declan Sherry of Monaghan Joggernauts, praised the communities for getting behind the brothers: “You’d have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by their story. It’s important to generate funds and awareness. If there was some breakthrough it would be fabulous. They are two marvellous human beings.”

Hundreds of Monaghan schoolchildren chanted encouragement and, as the brothers ran past the electronic billboard at Upstairs Downstairs, a ‘good luck’ message was displayed.

They received a heroes’ welcome in Scotstown too, the GAA Club put out the call and the village answered with a resounding ‘Yes!’ Henry’s Café put on a reception and Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ blasted out of the speakers as Jordan, Cian and their supporters ran out the bog road. Urbleshanny National School pupils also cheered them on from the sidelines.

Jordan and Cian were most generous with their time too, posing for photographs and posting videos highlighting their appreciation.

The Celt caught up with Danny Murphy from Monaghan Town Runners on a brief water break. He ran the entire Monaghan Marathon with the brothers: “When we started it was great, going past all the schools and seeing them again when we went through Scotstown. Everywhere we went we got a good reception; the story the guys have got is unbelievable. We’re not finished yet!” he said, taking off running again to complete the final four or five miles.

Comfort Keepers Ireland are sponsoring Jordan and Cian’s Irish Challenge across all 32 counties. Colette Gleeson, CEO, who was at the Monaghan office on the day, explained how the collaboration with the FTD Brothers came about after their appearance on The Tommy Tiernan Show last year. She was in awe of how they put their own struggles aside to raise awareness of dementia.

“The sponsorship helps with the brothers’ accommodation, clothing and footwear … but mainly it was around using our platforms to create more engagement, contacting all the local communities to raise awareness and support them on their journey,” Colette told the Celt.

Cian voiced his appreciation to Comfort Keepers: “They're absolutely amazing and we couldn't have done any of this without them.”

Cian, Jordan’s younger sibling, is a physiotherapist and the personification of brotherly love: “I did a half marathon today. I give him a rubdown in the morning or evening, whatever he needs, advice around his footwear and cadence, just to get him through. It's definitely a team effort.”

He explained that the FTD Brothers Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims for both research and welfare for those suffering with dementia, their familiy members and caregivers.

"This campaign is about making dementia visible, essentially getting as many people talking about dementia online, in person, in Ireland and back at home in England, as we possibly can.”

Both brothers, having been tested for the genetic condition and based on their family history, say there's a 99.9% chance they will live with FTD.

"It's most likely going to be mid-to-late 40s when symptoms kick in,” Cian revealed.

"Our mum was one of 13 cousins and eight out of the 13 had dementia in their 40s," he added.

Jordan said of his chances: "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. We know that. There's no treatment, there's no cure and that's why we're making dementia visible. We're going to try and change the world if we can.”

Speaking to the Celt after the Monaghan run, Jordan said the past few days had been a "whirlwind".

"We never know what to expect, it's a bit of a journey in itself, just getting to the start line. Then to come down to Peter's Lake this morning and see so many people gathered wanting pictures, we're keen to make sure that they all get them. We want to talk to people and connect with them. Within the first kilometre, there was another whole school out, and Scotstown was just incredible.”

Becoming emotional, Jordan revealed that he quit his job in 2024 to pursue his campaign full time and the challenge had been eight years in the marking.

"Now, finally it feels like a lot of people are listening. The support that we've had is just beyond any words I can really articulate. It's just incredible.”

Asked if his excellent level of fitness would help combat cognitive decline, Jordan, who is now 30 years old, added: “There's probably not enough research done to give me that kind of information. I want to stay fit. I want to show people how capable I am now, because those who have experienced dementia, FTD in particular, know that it robs a person living with it of everything that makes them the human being that they are - talent, skill, fitness, personality - the lot. I just want to show people that right now, whilst I'm pre-symptomatic, although I'm facing a daunting future, that I am still a capable young man.”

The proceeds of the FTD Brothers’ Irish Challenge will be split between the FTD Brothers Foundation CIC and The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland

In terms of their own foundation, Jordan added they have full control of how the money is spent: "We can pick specific research programmes, put that money to educational workshops in schools, we want to put on talks, as well as continuing to create social media content like I've been doing for the past two years.”

The decision to split the proceeds with the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland was an easy one.

"It's massively important to us that on this journey we came home to Ireland to honour the Irish relatives that we lost - to a place that our mum loved so much. We're going to make sure that we bring hope to as many Irish families living with dementia as possible,” Jordan concluded.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland welcomes the brothers’ extraordinary commitment and the awareness they are bringing to a lesser‑known but devastating form of dementia. Andy Heffernan CEO commented: “Jordan and Cian’s courage, honesty, and determination are extraordinary. Their story reflects the reality of so many families across Ireland who are living with the uncertainty, grief, and the daily challenges of dementia. Their challenge will not only raise vital funds but will also spark conversations that desperately need to happen.”

Funds raised will support essential services including day care, home care, dementia advisers, family support groups, and the National Helpline — all of which provide lifelines to families navigating a dementia diagnosis.

Monaghan took them to their hearts on day five of their Irish Challenge, now it’s Co Cavan’s turn on day ten.

The FTD Brothers will run a marathon starting and ending in Cavan Town today, Wednesday, May 6, so be sure to show your support. Their starting point is Cavan Bus Station at 10am.

Standing on a picnic table in the park in Monaghan Town on Friday morning, Jordan observed: “The county rivalry is getting to a lot of you! The crowds are doubling every day.”

If you would like to help the FTD Brothers smash their target of raising £1M (GBP) for research and advocacy into dementia, their GoFundMe page is ’33 Marathons in 33 Days’ set up by Jordan Adams. At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page amount raised stood at: £937,229 (GBP).

Their website is www.theftdbrothers.com and they are on all social media platforms.