Racing for Mum, again. This Time It’s a Family Affair.
Two brothers. Two extraordinary endurance challenges. One very special mum. And a determination to make life better for families living with young onset dementia.
Some families really do go the extra mile. The Horgan family are going considerably further than that!
You may remember Tim Horgan, who put his body on the line to raise funds and awareness for the Young Onset Dementia Collective (YODC), inspired by his mum Wendy and her experience of living with young onset dementia. Well, it seems determination runs in the family.
This November, Tim’s brother Jonathon (Jono) is taking on his first Ironman 70.3 in Melbourne, following in his brother’s footsteps and raising much-needed funds for YODC.
And once again, at the heart of this extraordinary effort is their mum, Wendy.
A mum who has always been there
When we first shared Tim’s story, we introduced readers to Wendy, a wonderful mum of three who had always been there for her family. She was the mum volunteering for school camps, cheering from the sidelines at weekend sport and filling lunchboxes with homemade baking.
Many will also remember Wendy from The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes, where she and Lois became the much-loved dessert dream team. It was a special experience for Wendy, demonstrating what people living with dementia can achieve when given the opportunity. But that television experience was just one chapter.
Today, Wendy remains a much-valued member of our YODC whanau, continuing to participate in our community programmes, building friendships, sharing experiences and enjoying the connection and belonging that have become such an important part of life beyond the television series.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and later Lewy Body Dementia, Wendy and her family know firsthand how profoundly young onset dementia can change family life.
But Wendy’s story has never been simply about what dementia takes away. It’s also about everything that remains possible when people are supported, included and valued. That’s something we believe in wholeheartedly at YODC.
When dementia changes everyone’s plans
Young onset dementia doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed. It reaches into every corner of family life, often at a time when people are still working, raising families, planning their futures and enjoying the independence of middle age.
For the Horgan family, those changes have been significant.
Jonathon shares that his brother Tim stepped away from his job three years ago to help support their mum and dad following Wendy’s diagnosis. While many people in their twenties are building careers and planning their futures, Tim put his own plans on hold to be there for his family.
It’s a reality that is all too familiar within our Collective.
Behind every person living with young onset dementia are often partners, children and other family members quietly making enormous adjustments, frequently without the recognition or support they deserve.
And yet, rather than allowing these challenges to define their family’s story, the Horgan brothers have found a way to turn their love for Wendy into something that reaches well beyond their own family.
First Tim. Now Jono.
Tim’s endurance fundraising has already demonstrated just how far someone will go for a cause close to their heart. Earlier this year, he completed a full Ironman while raising funds for YODC.
Now Jonathon is preparing for his own formidable challenge: an Ironman 70.3, involving a 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21.1km run.
That’s 113 km's of determination, endurance and, no doubt, a fair amount of discomfort!
But behind every kilometre is something much bigger.
Jonathon wants to honour his mum, acknowledge the extraordinary sacrifices his brother has made and help ensure that other families navigating young onset dementia have somewhere to turn.
He has seen what belonging to YODC has meant for Wendy, not as a one-off experience or a programme with an end date, but as an ongoing community where she is known, valued and welcomed for who she is. He wants more families to have those same opportunities.
Why their support means so much
At YODC, we know that a diagnosis of dementia should never mean the end of a meaningful, contributing and connected life. Our activities are built around a simple but powerful belief: people living with young onset dementia still have much to offer, much to enjoy and every right to belong.
Whether it’s working alongside others in our Impact Collective, sharing laughter and creativity at the Retro Lounge, or getting out into the community through our Enrichment Days, we create opportunities that recognise the person beyond their diagnosis.
Wendy is part of that continuing story, alongside others in our Collective whanau whose lives and contributions extend well beyond any diagnosis. These opportunities don’t happen by themselves. They require people, planning, transport, resources and, importantly, funding.
YODC receives no government funding for its community programmes. We rely on generosity, partnerships, volunteers and the extraordinary efforts of people who believe in what we do.
People like Tim and Jonathon.
Their fundraising is about far more than completing an endurance event. It’s about helping to keep opportunities alive for people like Wendy and the many others who are part of our Collective.
It’s about giving families something positive to be part of during an extraordinarily difficult journey. And it’s about showing that when communities come together, we don’t have to wait for someone else to make a difference.
Let’s get behind Jono!
Jonathon originally set himself a fundraising target of $2,000, and supporters have already helped him exceed that goal. But there’s no reason to stop there!
Every additional donation helps YODC continue creating opportunities for people living with young onset dementia to connect, contribute, find purpose and experience the simple joy of belonging.
We are incredibly grateful to Jonathon, Tim and the wider Horgan family. Not only for their generosity and extraordinary physical efforts, but for the example they set in turning a deeply personal family challenge into something that benefits so many others.
Wendy has every reason to be proud of her boys.
And we’re pretty proud of them too.
Please support Jonathon’s Ironman challenge, share his fundraising page and help us cheer him all the way to the finish line.
Because no family should have to navigate young onset dementia alone. And because life, connection and belonging still matter, every step of the way.
