Weightloss wonder Wendy leads Alzheimer's Society team in the Bupa Great North ... - Alzheimer's Society

Joining Wendy are actor and entrepreneur Andy Newton-Lee and television presenter and fitness expert Jamie Darling. Wendy will be taking up the challenge on Sunday 18 September after significantly improving her health thanks to a new found love of running.

Wendy was a chronic asthmatic and had osteoarthritis in her hips and knees, but in less than 18 months she has lost over two stone and no longer needs any of the medication she used to rely on to dull her daily agony.

She decided to take part in the Bupa Great North Run to raise funds for Alzheimer's Society in honour of her mother Alice who died with Alzheimer's. She is also running for her brother-in-law Peter who has Down's Syndrome and was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease aged only 54.

Wendy said:

'The Bupa Great North is a great goal to have to give your training some focus and helped me to dramatically improve my health. After seeing Peter go through the same horrid disease as my mum, I wanted to do something positive and fundraising for Alzheimer's Society seemed the best way to do it.  My mum was a remarkable lady who loved reading and writing poetry, and even towards the end of her life when she was unable to communicate, she never lost her ability to recite poetry.'

Best known as ladies' man Robbie Flynn in Hollyoaks, Andy Newton-Lee, has since moved to LA where he runs his celebrity re-location business Next Stop LAX, but has flown back especially for the Bupa Great North Run for the second year in a row.

'It's worth the trip to be able to take part - there's nothing as big as this in the States even - and it's particularly special to be running with the Alzheimer's Society team and for such a good cause. One in three of us over the age of 65 will die with dementia so it's something that will affect us all at some time.'

BBC presenter Jamie Darling is stepping up his support of Alzheimer's Society this year, intending to complete all the runs in the series.

'It's fantastic to know I'll be running with such a huge team and for such a good cause.  I know from my personal experience what a devastating condition dementia is so I'll be running for the 750,000 people in the UK with dementia and their loved ones who care for them.'

This is the third consecutive year Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland have been Bupa's nominated charities.  By the end of 2011, they hope to have raised £3.5million to fight dementia.

Dr Graham Stokes, Director of Dementia Care at Bupa Care Services said:

'We're very pleased to be supporting Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland for a third year. As the UK's leading provider of dementia care, we're committed to helping people with the disease to live well. We understand how important it is to work with Alzheimer's Society to support people with dementia today and find a cure for tomorrow.

Signing up to support the Alzheimer's charities in a Bupa Great Run means you can get fit, help reduce your risk of dementia and raise money for a very worthwhile cause.