Stamford runner dedicates NYC Marathon to mother with Alzheimer’s

Doug Maclean will be running with the Alzheimer's Association in honor of his mother.

Alexa Farrell and Nicole Alarcon

Nov 3, 2023, 9:21 PM

Updated 414 days ago

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This weekend, runners will hit the streets of the five boroughs during the New York City Marathon, including one man from Stamford – Doug Maclean will be running with the Alzheimer's Association in honor of his mother.
"I think she forgot, she started to forget about me two years ago," said Maclean.
Memories, dates, and familiar faces started to fade for Eileen Maclean in 2016.
"The giveaway was when she looked at me and was like ‘what is your birthday,’ and mine is December 24, so in the family there is always a Christmas joke, Christmas baby, right,” Maclean said. “So, when she looked at me and said what's your birthday, that's when I felt it the most."
His mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at 60 years old. 
"My mom was a runner, she loved exercising, triathlons, swimming, so it’s like pushing myself to do something different but also to do something my mom used to love," he said.
This isn’t the first time he has participated in a marathon. On his first experience, his mother was there to cheer him on. This time, she will be in his heart.
Maclean’s mother now lives in a full-time facility, getting the care her family says she needs.