Fort Worth man not letting COVID stop him from running to raise funds for Alzheimer’s
Brian Hill is taking on one of the toughest challenges of his life to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, running a 135-mile course in the Las Vegas desert where temperatures will soar well over 100 degrees.
Hill, who is from Fort Worth, will start his 135-mile journey Monday to raise money and awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.
“People who are caregivers or those with Alzheimer’s disease face far bigger challenges than this,” Hill said referring to his upcoming race.
Hill said temperatures on Monday will reach 108 degrees, but his route through a city park means he will be exposed to temperatures close to 130.
But running in extreme heat isn’t daunting for Hill who for the past two years has competed in the Badwater 135, described as the toughest foot race in the world.
The race starts in Death Valley and ends at Whitney Portal, the highest point in the lower 48 states. In fact, he was supposed to run that race next week, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic stopped the race from going forward when organizers canceled it.
Hill said he participated in the Badwater 135 as part of the Longest Day, an event where people raise funds for research and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. His goal this year is to raise $3,500.
Hill said he will get to run in next year’s race, scheduled for July.
Alzheimer’s disease has affected Hill personally. His grandmother was killed when he was in high school after she wandered from a memory care facility and was struck by a train. His father is currently in a memory care unit, Hill said.
Hill said running in extreme conditions is all about mental and physical preparation as well as team work.
His crew will drive alongside him to make sure he stays fed and hydrated. Hill said he won’t take in much solid food, as it’s hard for the body to process while running. Hill is getting his nutrition from drinks such as Insure and also foods that are high in calories such as ice cream sandwiches and chips to help replenish salt lost from sweating.
Hill, 46, is a Franchise Performance Support Manager with IHG, a hotel chain.
Hill said the coronavirus pandemic changed how he prepared for the race this year, as he spent time on the Trinity Trails and competed in virtual races after events were canceled.
He first ran the Badwater 135 in 2018 and said he was surprised when he was chosen as only 100 participants throughout the world to participate in this invitation only event.
“When you are at that level of long distance running, you need to use that platform for a good cause,” he said.
Hill recalled that when he was at the Cowtown Marathon, he saw the Alzheimer’s Association and “a lightbulb came on.”
Hill recounted one of the most difficult challenges he faced when he ran the Badwater last year.
The last leg of the course is all uphill, and he worried he couldn’t finish the race.
“I looked at it and said I simply can’t do it. A crew member said there are 26 names (of people with dementia) on the back of your shirt.”
Hill said he dedicated each of the 13 remaining miles to two people listed on his shirt.
“Putting people front and center like that led me to conquer the race. It’s a really small sacrifice to make for people with dementia and people who are caregivers,” he said.
Alzheimer’s facts:
- 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
- Approximately 400,000 Texans have Alzheimer’s.
- Texas ranks 4th in number of Alzheimer’s cases and 2nd in Alzheimer’s deaths.
- Alzheimer’s disease is the 5th leading cause of death in the US.
- In the US, someone develops Alzheimer’s every 65 seconds.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association