FTD Brothers 'feel hugely privileged' as marathon fundraiser for dementia surpasses €1.5m

Jordan and Cian Adams continue their journey across Ireland, with a goal to complete 33 marathons in 33 days in aid of dementia research

Jordan Adams and his brother Cian pictured in Cork, where Jordan completed his 23rd marathon in 23 days. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Jordan and Cian Adams, known as the FTD Brothers, have reached a significant milestone in their ‘33 marathons in 33 days’ campaign throughout Ireland.

The brothers, aged 30 and 25, have raised more than £1m (€1.14m) since the start of their campaign to raise awareness and funds for dementia research. As of Tuesday, their dedicated GoFundMe page had reached £1.351m (€1.5m).

Jordan and Cian, two of three siblings, grew up in the small English town of Redditch in Worcestershire with their older sister, Kennedy, and shared a happy home with their parents Glenn and Geraldine.

On June 23, 2010, Jordan learned that his mother had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) at just 15 years of age. Kennedy was 17 and Cian was just nine years old.

In the years that followed, they cared for their mother before she passed away in March of 2016 at the age of just 52.

Following her mother’s passing, Kennedy found out, with the support of Professor Tim Lynch at the Dublin Neurological Institute and the QE in Birmingham, that she had inherited the normal copy of the gene from her father and would not have to live with FTD.

However, in 2018, Jordan received the news that he was a carrier of the faulty copy of the gene, meaning that there is a high chance that he will develop dementia in his 40s. Cian followed suit in 2023 and got tested, finding out that he too was a carrier of the gene.

Now, the brothers are taking on their most challenging fundraising campaign to date – running 32 marathons across the 32 counties of Ireland in just 32 days, paying homage to their mother’s Irish background and the place she loved dearly.

Jordan Adams of the FTD Brothers Foundations pictured with members of the St Finnbar's Athletic Club after finishing the Cork marathon, number 23 out of the 33 he and his brother Cian are completing around Ireland. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Their challenge kicked off on April 26 when Jordan took part in the London Marathon carrying a 25kg fridge on his back.

The brothers then travelled to Ireland to run a marathon a day in each of the 32 counties, with their sights set on making it to Dublin for the final marathon of the campaign on May 28.

Since beginning their journey in the north of the island, the pair have made their way down south, not only completing a marathon each day but keeping their social media campaign alive with regular updates and interacting with followers of their story.

On Monday, hundreds came out to support the brothers as they set off for their run in Cork City, gathering at Tramore Valley Park in the wet and windy conditions.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Irish Examiner (@irish_examiner)

Speaking to the Irish Examiner in Cork on Monday after completing his 23rd marathon in 23 days, Jordan said: “I feel very tired, both emotionally, mentally, and physically now, but yeah, an absolute pleasure to be here on day 23 here in Cork, surrounded by so many friendly people again here at the local community, gifted jerseys again, Cork City jerseys, and GAA jersey. I feel part of their county and their city today and I feel hugely privileged for that.

“Each morning seems to get more and more difficult, trying to convince myself that I’ve got to go and do another 26.2 miles and when you come down and you see so many people out to support. I think I’ve only ever been to three counties in Ireland in my life and Cork’s another new one that I’ve never been to and to see so many strangers who have obviously come across our story in the past three weeks come out and support in such numbers and in such miserable weather as well today. It’s truly overwhelming and I don’t think this will sink in for a long, long time.” 

Cian, who was forced to bow out of the Cork marathon early due to an injury, said: “My brother's been on this journey of advocacy and trying to raise money and awareness for dementia for eight years now. I've not joined him with my diagnosis three, four years ago. 

"And it has at times felt like we’ve been banging our heads against the wall, particularly early onset dementia – two young lads talking about it can go awry sometimes. 

"But this campaign seems to have worked an absolute treat and the whole of Ireland is behind us, so the support has just been absolutely remarkable, even in counties we’ve never visited before, so it’s something that we’re truly grateful for.” 

Jordan Adams of the FTD Brothers Foundations was greeted by his father, Glenn, as he finished the Cork marathon in the heavy rain. Picture: Noel Sweeney

In February 2025, both Jordan and Cian appeared together on The Tommy Tiernan Show where they spoke about their mother, described the emotional toll that caring for her had on them, opened up about their personal struggles with mental health down through the years, and their ongoing campaign to raise awareness.

Speaking to Tiernan at the time about their terminal prognosis, they said they are realistic and know that a cure is most likely not going to be in place before they begin to experience symptoms “in the next 10 to 15 years”.

"We're realistic. We're hopeful that there will be change. Maybe there'll be disease-modifying treatment, but it might not come on time for us," Jordan said.

The pair ran their 24th marathon in Tipperary on Tuesday, and will go on to run in Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Portlaoise, Tullamore and Kildare before finishing up in Dublin on May 28.