THE grandson of a former Labour MP is to take on the Great North Run in his memory.

Marketing executive Joshua Boyes was just four years old when his grandfather Roland Boyes was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 58.

The former MP for Houghton and Washington campaigned for greater awareness of dementia and research funding during the first years after diagnosis and sadly died in 2006 aged 69.

Now his 23-year-old grandson will take part in the Morrisons Great North Run on Sunday, September 13 in memory of his granddad, to boost funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Mr Boyes, from Peterlee, said: “Growing up I watched my granddad deteriorate and saw first-hand how the disease affects not only the individual but the family and loved ones around them.

“My granddad was a proud, hardworking and gentle man and it was devastating for my family to watch him become frightened and aggressive as the disease took hold.

“I was a teenager when Granddad passed away and I feel very sad that I never got the chance to know him as the great husband, father and community figure he was”.

The 13-mile run will be his first fundraising challenge for the charity and he will be watched by Roland’s widow Pat as he completes the run from Newcastle to South Shields.

Mr Boyes said: “My nana is very proud of me for taking part and will be there cheering for me on the day.

“Just like my granddad believed, I firmly feel the only way to defeat this disease is though research. I want to be a part of the answer that stops families in the future having to experience the same heartache that mine has.”

If you would like to sponsor Joshua, please visit www.justgiving.com/joshboyes.