Northampton Mum's Marathon Challenge

26 April 2010, 11:59 | Updated: 26 April 2010, 12:20

Northampton woman Dione Priddy is back home after an emotional London Marathon, dedicated to the memory of her husband Mark.

He died from early onset Alzheimer's on the 13th April, just 12 days before the event.  His funeral was held on Friday but Dione's been telling Heart she was determined to carry on with the race.

Dione told us: "certainly in the first five days after he passed away I just felt so dizzy I really didn't think I'd be able to run at all let alone a marathon.  But I just felt that Mark would want me to carry on as I've trained so hard for the last year."

Dione had been hoping to raise around two thousand pounds for Alzheimer’s Research Trust but has smashed her fundraising target and has now raised over ten thousand pounds and told us it was one of the main reasons why she decided to carry on with the race: “All those people who've sponsored me, strangers from all over from the country have been behind me and sponsored me so I just felt I had to carry on and I'm so glad I did."

She managed to get round the gruelling course - her first marathon - in 3hrs 56mins.

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “Early onset Alzheimer’s is rare and it is tragic that Mark has been affected with this dreadful disease.

“We can’t thank Dione enough for all her efforts to raise money for the research we fund, bringing us ever nearer to finding new preventions, treatments and an eventual cure.

“Over 7,000 people in Northamptonshire are living with the daily reality of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. More investment into research is desperately needed and we rely entirely on our wonderful supporters.”  

Anyone wishing to sponsor Dione can do so by telephoning Sharon Manison at the Alzheimer’s Research Trust on 01223 843899 or by clicking here