British brothers Jordan and Cian Adams made sure to bring back little mementos from their day sitting among the VIPs at Wimbledon. A program. The Royal Box seating chart with their names on it. A hat. They’re creating and cherishing memories now with their partners because of what’s ahead.
The brothers have a rare gene mutation that is all but certain to lead to frontotemporal dementia, a form of brain disease they know far too well. Their mother, Geraldine, died from FTD in 2016 at age 52. Both brothers, who expect symptoms to begin in their mid-40s, have tested positive for the MAPT gene mutation that causes the disease. Their older sister, Kennedy, tested negative.
This week’s invitation to watch the men’s semifinal matches at Wimbledon’s Royal Box came as a reward for an extraordinary athletic undertaking. Just months earlier, Jordan and Cian had run 33 marathons in 33 consecutive days, a grueling endurance challenge designed to raise awareness of the disease that will likely claim them both.
The challenge began at the London Marathon on April 26, where 31-year-old Jordan ran the full 26.2-mile distance with a 25-kilogram refrigerator strapped to his back. The fridge was symbolic of the weight that family members bear when caring for loved ones with FTD.
The next day, the brothers launched their “Irish Challenge,” running one marathon per day across each of Ireland’s 32 counties. Their mother’s family has Irish roots, and 12 relatives on that side have died from the disease. The brothers wanted to return to the island to honor their family’s connection to the devastation caused by FTD.
The reception in Ireland was overwhelming. Supporters joined them to run portions of the marathon routes, local media featured their story, and they received an invitation from Ireland’s deputy prime minister to speak with government officials about how the country can better support people with dementia. The public response was so enthusiastic that Jordan and Cian became known as the “FTD Brothers,” with communities across the island rallying behind their mission.
Working with Alzheimer’s organizations in both Britain and Ireland, the brothers have raised nearly 2.7 million pounds through their various endurance challenges since formally coming together as The FTD Brothers in 2024. That milestone is particularly significant given that their lifetime goal had been to raise one million pounds before symptoms began to manifest.
But the brothers insist their mission extends far beyond fundraising. Jordan emphasized that their focus remains on advocating for better government support for services and care. “People living with dementia and their families don’t feel alone, don’t feel isolated and that’s just as important as finding the treatment and the cure,” he said.
The brothers are realistic about their prospects. Jordan carries a 99.9 percent likelihood of developing FTD, and both have been transparent about their timeline. “I’ve got the best part of 10 to 15 years before symptoms likely arise,” Jordan said. He has also been candid that he does not believe a cure will arrive in time for him and his brother. There is currently no cure for the disease.
At Wimbledon this week, the brothers were part of a distinguished Royal Box contingent that included actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Hugh Laurie. During their time at the tournament, they chatted with West Indies cricket great Brian Lara and journalist and podcaster Louis Theroux. When Theroux asked about their connection to the event, the brothers opened up about their mission and their personal stakes in the fight against dementia.
From the British side of their campaign, Prince William sent them a letter congratulating them on their “inspiring journey.”
The brothers’ momentum shows no signs of slowing. They plan to run the Chicago Marathon in October and are organizing an expedition to hike Mount Kilimanjaro through their non-profit FTD Brothers Foundation. Their next immediate engagement is as special guests of the Gaelic Athletic Association at the national Gaelic football semifinals at Croke Park in Dublin this coming Sunday.
Jordan summed up their philosophy simply: “We have been able to turn adversity into something quite hopeful by advocating for other people and trying to bring the dementia community together and hopefully that will be evidence to them that they can live positive lives too.”