THE daughter of a retired Oxford Brookes University lecturer has raised more than £1,400 for Alzheimer’s Research UK in honour of her academic dad, who is living with the condition.

Peter George lectured in sociology and social policy at the university before retiring in 1996, aged 55.

He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease four years ago at the age of 73, cutting short an active retirement that included singing with Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir.

Now his daughter, Bethan Watts, has taken on a 300-mile cycling challenge to help raise money for dementia research, and has smashed her £150 target within just two weeks.

She took on the fundraiser as part of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s new initiative, Cycling Down Dementia, which asks supporters to take commit to a 300 or 1,000-mile combined cycle between now and the end of January to help pay for dementia research.

When she decided to take on the challenge, she said could never have predicted the swell of support from families and friends whose lives have been touched by her lecturer dad, who now lives in specialist dementia care home Vale House, in Sandford-on-Thames.

Mrs Watts, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, said: “The first time dad forgot who we were was a horrible time for us. It was a huge shock.

"That’s really when you start grieving.”

“Today, he is completely immobile. Somebody has to feed him.

"His body has literally forgotten how to work.”

The 47-year-old wanted to do something to help fund research into Alzheimer’s for some time, as there are no effective treatments for the disease.

She said: “Dementia is the underdog in terms of research, and it’s also the condition that has the biggest impact on health and social care services.

"Compared to cancer, research into dementia is underfunded, which is why I wanted to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.”

Kenneth Foreman, senior sporting events manager for the charity, said: “We would like to thank Bethan for her fundraising efforts.

"To have raised this huge amount of money in such a short time is an incredible feat.

“There are more than 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia and this number is set to rise.

"That is why it’s so important that we work together to end the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia.

"The vital funds raised from Cycling Down Dementia will power world-class dementia research projects helping to shape our understanding of the condition and open the door to new treatments.”

Cyclists who want to sign up should visit cyclingdowndementia.org.

For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK, or to find out more about fundraising for the charity, call 0300 111 5555 or visit alzheimersresearchuk.org.