Hugh Dennis says he won't be Outnumbered in the Bupa Great South Run

They will all be running in Portsmouth on 24 October for the Bupa Great South Run.

While this is the twenty-first year of Europe's leading ten mile run, it's the second time Hugh and Dr Hilary have joined forces for Alzheimer's Society, Bupa's nominated charity.  They are joined this year by award-winning actress Dervla.  She recently received an IFTA for her role in the film Ondine with Colin Farrell, but is more popularly know as the velvety seductive voice of M&S food.

Hugh said he's delighted to be back in Portsmouth, adding:

'It's a great course with a fantastic atmosphere, so I'm delighted to be able to take part again and to have the opportunity to support Alzheimer's Society.  In 2009, we raised over £1 million to help fight dementia and as we hit the last of the 2010 Bupa Great Runs, I think we're pretty confident that we'll beat that target this year.'

Dervla is a regular runner, but it's the first time she's taken part in a run for Alzheimer's Society.  She said:

'I know from personal experience that dementia is a devastating disease and I'm delighted to be able to lend my support to Alzheimer's Society whilst doing something I love.  Every penny raised for Alzheimer's Society from the Bupa Great Runs counts.  Raising just £20 could support a researcher for a day with the equipment and chemicals needed to develop better treatments in the fight against dementia.'

Dr Hilary Jones is running with his partner, celebrity fitness trainer, Dee Thresher and 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.'

Amongst the 23,500 runners expected to take part in the Bupa Great South this year will be 36-year-old Orla Crean and her three sisters and two brothers.  They are running in honour of their father, Surgeon Commodore Dermot Crean, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease two years ago.  Orla said:

'Some of us have taken part in runs before and some of us haven't, so it will be interesting.  The whole family has been devastated by Dad's diagnosis so we wanted to do something positive together to raise awareness and we're aiming to raise £1,500 towards fighting dementia.'

This is the second year that Alzheimer's Society has been Bupa's nominated charity for the Bupa Great Run Series. 

Dr Graham Stokes, Bupa's director of dementia care, explains why Alzheimer's Society was a natural choice to be the nominated charity:

'Alzheimer's Society and Bupa are working together across a range of projects to support people with dementia and their carers to find a cure for the future, whilst improving their quality of life and care. Both organisations share a commitment to fighting dementia and a belief in the health benefits of exercise. Signing up to support Alzheimer's Society in a Bupa Great Run means you can get fit, helping reduce your risk of dementia whilst raising money for a very worthwhile cause.'