Former Brookside Star Leading Exercise Marathon In Waterloo For Alzheimer’s Research UK
Actress and professional fitness instructor Paula Muldoon will be leading a seven-hour exercise marathon this May to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Paula, who played Diana Corkhill on soap opera Brookside for three years, has organised the event, where over 100 people will be getting their hearts pumping for a good cause.
The 46-year-old was inspired to support Alzheimer’s Research UK after losing her dad Michael to early-onset frontotemporal dementia in 2012. He was just 55 when he was diagnosed.
Michael was passionate about fitness and set up gyms across the country. It was this that motivated Paula to pursue a career as a fully-qualified fitness instructor, personal trainer and nutritionist, starting her own Liverpool-based business, Corefit.
The exercise marathon will take place from 10am to 5pm on 21 May at Old Christ Church, Waterloo. It is the second time Paula’s held the event, after a successful debut last year.
Classes will include dance, burlesque, body combat, boot camp, boxing and pilates to finish. Paula will be teaching all of these herself, aside from body combat, which will be led by a group of instructors on stage.
If that wasn’t enough, Paula’s also organising a mass bike ride called the Braveheart Cycle on 2 July. She will lead the group on a 70-mile journey from Blackpool Tower to Liverpool Liver Buildings. About 40 people are expected to take part.
Paula, who lives in Waterloo, said:
“People don’t usually want to talk about dementia. It’s one of the biggest health issues facing us, yet it receives a lot less attention than other conditions. It’s such a scary thing to have to face and many people think it’s an inevitable part of growing old, but it’s not.”
Paula has experienced first-hand the impact that dementia can have. Her dad lived with the condition for 11 years, dying at the age of 64.
“It was hard to watch as little by little dementia stole my dad’s pioneering spirit, precious memories and independence, especially at such a young age. I decided to put my heartbreak into making a difference. I support Alzheimer’s Research UK because, in the end, research is the most important thing. We need medication that can stop dementia, or that can slow it down, so that people can have a longer, better quality of life. At the moment, no such treatments exist.”
Between the two events, Paula’s hoping to raise at least £15,000 for the charity. She is an Alzheimer’s Research UK Champion and founder of the Braveheart Foundation, which she set up in memory of her dad. She has already raised thousands of pounds through the foundation, with all of it going to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Hannah Reynolds, Community Fundraising Executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Paula is a fantastic Champion, constantly doing all she can to raise money for dementia research and increase awareness of the devastating condition that affects so many. There are around 44 million people living with dementia across the world. It causes not only memory problems, but can also affect a person’s ability to communicate, walk and carry out everyday tasks such as dressing and eating. We want to say a big thank you to Paula for helping us to power vital research, looking into prevention, treatments and ultimately a cure for dementia.”
For more information on how you can take part in either the exercise marathon or Braveheart Cycle, contact Paula on paula@corefit.org.uk or 07850 111671.
If you’d like to support Paula, visit www.justgiving.com/Paula-Muldoon.
