A student recruitment manager at the University of Suffolk will be running the Edinburgh Marathon at the end of the month in memory of her father and his battle with dementia.

Ipswich Star: Karen Hinton's father Terry, who died after a prolonged battle with dementia, alongside wife CarolKaren Hinton's father Terry, who died after a prolonged battle with dementia, alongside wife Carol (Image: Archant)

Karen Hinton, 35, only began running in the last two years, but after her father Terry died in January aged 68, decided to run in his memory and raise cash for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Mrs Hinton said: “He was diagnosed in 2012 at 64, but his type of dementia started in his 40s. Once we got that diagnosis it explained a lot about his behaviour.

Ipswich Star: Karen Hinton during training ahead of her Edinburgh Marathon attemptKaren Hinton during training ahead of her Edinburgh Marathon attempt (Image: Archant)

“Anybody can get it, and I just think if we can do more to promote the issue and fund research in the first place that could help slow it or stop some other symptoms that would be good.

“There are no words that can describe quite how awful it is to see someone you love disappearing in front of your eyes.”

So far, the Stowmarket Striders runner has raised more than £1,000.

To support Mrs Hinton visit her online fundraising page here.