Hugh's injured but Hilary and Dee rally 1,800 Alzheimer's Society runners in the Bupa Great South Run

An ankle injury prevented Hugh from taking part in the 10-mile run, so it was left to ITV Daybreak's Dr Hilary Jones and his partner, the celebrity fitness trainer Dee Thresher, to lead the 1,800 people running for Alzheimer's Society.

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Hugh, who ran for Alzheimer's Society last year and lives near Petersfield, said:

'I'm terribly disappointed.  I very much wanted to run for Alzheimer's Society again this year.  One in three of us will die with dementia so it is something that touches all our lives at some time and it is such an important issue.  I also really enjoy running and this is a great course - mainly because it's flat!  Watching everyone warm up at the startline is very frustrating.'

Despite both recovering from colds, Dr Hilary and Dee crossed the finish line together within their 1 hour 40 minute target time.  Dr Hilary said:

'Having something like a Bupa Great Run ahead of you like this gives you the incentive to maintain your fitness and do a bit every week.  I was delighted that Bupa chose Alzheimer's Society as their nominated charity again this year.  Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain and affects over 750,000 people in the UK, so fundraising at events like this is so important.'

Leading the 23,000 runners was world cross country champion Joseph Ebuya who set a UK All-Comers' 10 miles record time of 45 minutes and 16 seconds, but Alzheimer's Society's own hero was Press Officer Emma Fielder who finished her first ever Bupa Great Run in 1:47:38.

At the post-run reception for Alzheimer's Society runners, an exhilarated Emma, who has already raised almost £600, said:

'Since I started working for the Society I've met lots of people with dementia and their carers and this was a wonderful opportunity to do something positive to help.  It's been a big challenge for me, but the feeling of achievement when you cross the finishing line is incredible.  To know it's going to help such a good cause makes it even better.'

The Bupa Great South Run was the last in the 2010 series for which Alzheimer's Society has been the nominated charity. 

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.'

The next run will be the Bupa Great Winter Run in Edinburgh in January 2011, when newsreader Nina Hossain will be leading the Alzheimer's Society team.