A FUNDRAISER who described her running as “absolutely pathetic” is aiming to run a total of 100km before the end of next month.

Rhona Taylor is lacing up her running shoes in a bid to cover the distance in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

The 21-year-old has signed up to the charity’s Running Down Dementia challenge.

She said: “My gran [Margaret Taylor] had dementia and had it for about seven years.

“That is when I started getting involved with Dementia Friendly Haddington.

“I feel I have learnt so much about how dementia does not have to be a life sentence.

“Living with dementia does not have to be a life-ender. You can still live a really happy life with it but obviously you need the research – no one survives dementia right now.”

Alzheimer’s Research UK was founded in 1992 and is the country’s leading dementia research charity.

More than 1,700 people across the county have been diagnosed with dementia, with that figure expected to double in the next 20 years.

University student Rhona got involved with Dementia Friendly Haddington when she was still at Knox Academy.

Now entering her fourth year studying film at Edinburgh Napier University, Rhona co-organised an event with fellow Knox Academy pupil Kate Farmer at Haddington Day Centre which saw an entire music class provide entertainment.

Since then, Rhona, of Haddington, has completed the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 10k but admits running is far from her favourite hobby.

She said: “I have no stamina really. My boyfriend loves running and always makes fun of me because I come back all proud that I have done one kilometre non-stop!

“I definitely don’t enjoy it either but then I am hoping by the end of it, as a bonus, I will start to enjoy the running – you never know.”

Rhona, who previously used her film skills to create a short video to highlight the efforts of Blooming Haddington volunteers in a bid to impress Keep Scotland Beautiful judges, has downloaded a mobile phone app to record the length of her runs. There is no limit to how many runs she takes, as long as her combined distance reaches 100km before August 31.

Rhona is already at more than 20km and her runs can be tracked on her web page, where supporters can also make donations.

She said: “The first week I started to run was pretty tough but it is getting better.”

The impact of dementia is far-reaching, affecting not just the person diagnosed with the condition, said Rhona, who added: “It just affects everyone around the person living with it.

“It can be incredibly hard to see and even harder for the person, especially when the person is aware of what is happening around them.”

To support Rhona, go to run ningdowndementia2018.everydayhero.com/uk/rhona