'Amazing' FTD brothers set for freedom of town

Two brothers who raised almost £2m towards dementia research through a month-long sequence of marathons are set to be awarded the freedom of their hometown in Worcestershire.

Jordan and Cian Adams, known as the FTD Brothers, are expected to be given the freedom of the borough in Redditch.

Councillor Matt Dormer, the leader of the borough council, has submitted a notice of motion to that effect which will be voted on at the end of June.

"What they have done is incredible - they've raised so much money, and to do it in the way they've done it is just phenomenal," he said.

The brothers lost their mum Geraldine when she was 52, after she was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and they found they too have the gene that can lead to the condition.

They said they have also lost 12 Irish relatives to the same condition, including their grandmother and aunt.

The pair, who are both at risk of getting dementia in their 40s, took part in the London Marathon before going to Ireland with the aim of completing 32 marathons in 32 days.

They then returned home to Redditch in a blaze of glory having raised £1.9m for charity so far.

"They totally and utterly deserve this accolade," Dormer said.

"It's not just about running marathons - they've brought enormous credit to Redditch, this is exactly the sort of contribution the award is supposed to recognise.

"Many people didn't have a clue about Redditch before all this - they've put the town on the map, 100 per cent.

"I don't see anybody objecting to this at all, it makes great sense."

The motion will be voted on at the next full council meeting on 29 June and, if approved, an extraordinary meeting will take place in August to bestow the honour on the brothers.

That will take place at the Palace Theatre in Redditch - which is also expected to be turned into a fundraising opportunity.

The decision would be only the fourth time in Redditch's history that the freedom of the borough has been granted - the last recipient was the 37th Signal Regiment in 2014.

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