Runs in the family

Between the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, majestic mountains, lava fields and landscapes, a group of runners in this year’s Reykjavik Marathon in Iceland had St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) on their minds.

Ten members of the Moylan family and a few friends recently ran the full marathon in support of Alzheimer’s and dementia research.

They wanted to raise funds, increase awareness and thank Dr. Michael Borrie and his team for the care provided to their father and grandfather – John Moylan. They were running for John and all those suffering from the disease and their families, who watch helplessly as their loved one “disappears behind the haze of dementia,” says granddaughter Melani Ferris.

John first began showing signs of dementia more than 10 years ago and was referred for assessment to Dr. Borrie, a geriatrician at St. Joseph’s. Within two sessions, John was diagnosed with vascular dementia, a progressive disease that causes damage to the brain due to blood vessel damage or blockages and can affect memory, communication and speech, concentration, judgment or visual perception. It was the first time the family had definitive answers about John’s health.

Thankful for the care, John and his wife Margaret participated in Dr. Borrie’s national observational study of cognitive impairment and dementia. The study used data collected from clinical testing and questionnaires of more than 1,600 participants over five years to address the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

“I very much appreciate John and Margaret’s personal contribution to our research and am most grateful that they recognized the research team with this fundraising endeavour,” says Dr. Borrie.

“My mom feels indebted and is grateful for the kindness and assistance she received,” says John’s son David Moylan. “She felt Dr. Borrie was not only very genuine and cared deeply, but he was invested in my dad, which left a lasting impression on her.”

Witnessing the patriarch of the family battling dementia has been hard on the family. “One day you can have a whole conversation with him and he knows who you are, and the next day, you can’t,” says Melani, who lives two hours away from her grandfather.

Wanting to do something, Melani pitched the idea of the marathon to her family. The group began training in January 2023, fueled by gratitude for John’s care and motivated by a larger cause – Alzheimer’s and dementia research.

Although running a marathon is a challenging feat for most, it’s old hat for the Moylan family. The Reykjavik Marathon held in August was David’s third and the second for Melani. The family also ran a half marathon during the COVID-19 pandemic to raise funds for cancer and participated in the David Goggins 4x4x48 Challenge in Exeter, running four miles every four hours for 48 hours.

“The run went well,” says Melani after the Reykjavik Marathon. “I’m so proud of all the runners for completing it and running their best. Feeling a bit sore, but the soak in the Blue Lagoon helped.”

Including a personal gift from John’s wife Margaret, the family is pleased to have raised more than $10,000 in support of St. Joseph’s. Funds will support research focused on finding protein biomarkers in blood that will provide a clear diagnosis for memory problems.

“Soon, we anticipate these blood tests will be available in clinical practices,” says Dr. Borrie. “It is anticipated these biomarkers will tell us  the course an illness will take and response to new treatments.”

There isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but Dr. Borrie hopes this research can assist in slowing or eventually stopping the disease before symptoms of memory loss progress and affect daily activities.