TV stars Hugh Dennis and Dr Hilary Jones lead Alzheimer’s Society team in the Bupa Great South Run

The run is taking place on Sunday 30 October in Portsmouth. This is the second time that actor and comedian Hugh Dennis has taken part in Europe's leading 10 mile race for Alzheimer's Society, having had to pull out last year due to a difficult ankle injury.  Hugh said:

'I'm thrilled to be returning to Portsmouth this year for the Bupa Great South Run. Watching the runners from the sidelines last year was so disappointing, so I'm really pleased to be coming back. This run has a great 10-mile course with a fantastic atmosphere, so I'm delighted to be able to run again for the nominated charity, Alzheimer's Society. This is Alzheimer's Society's final Great Run as Bupa's charity partner which has enabled us to raise a total of £3.5million for people with dementia and their carers.'

Dr Hilary Jones and his partner, celebrity fitness trainer, Dee Thresher will be running the Bupa Great South Run for the third time this year. Dr Hilary said:

'Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain and can affect anyone.  There are over 750,000 people with dementia in the UK and that figure is set to double in the next thirty years.  We desperately need the resources to support people with dementia and their carers today and to fund vital research to find a cure tomorrow.'

This is the third and final year of the charity partnership between Bupa and Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland for the Bupa Great Runs Series.

Since 2009, the partnership has raised over £3.5million to fight dementia, with 27,000 people running in support of Alzheimer's Society.

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

'We're very pleased to have helped Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer Scotland raise such a substantial amount of money during our three year partnership. As the UK's leading provider of dementia care, we're committed to helping people with the condition to live well and we understand how important it is to work with Alzheimer's Society to support people with dementia today and find a cure for tomorrow. That's why we've already started our next partnership, supporting Alzheimer's Society's flagship fundraising event, Memory Walk.'