Brothers Discover They Have Rare Dementia Gene, Decide to Run Length of Entire Country: 'Our Time is Short'

Two brothers who learned they both carry a rare faulty gene linked to dementia are using the devastating news as fuel to run the London Marathon and then the entire length of the UK to raise money for the Alzheimer's Research UK charity.

Jordan Adams, 28, and Cian Adams, 23, from Worcestershire, England, learned they carry the gene that can lead to frontotemporal dementia (FTD). According to the BBC, it's the same disease that killed their mother, Geraldine, when she was 52 years old in 2016.

During an appearance on Breakfast BBC, the brothers shared that the news has "put a really great onus on living a more meaningful life." Part of what they believe will make their lives meaningful is finding a cure for the destructive disease.

"Our time is short," Cian said. "We might have 15, 20 healthy summers left, so it's really important for us to bang the drum and raise as much money and awareness as we can in that time."

Since their appearance on BBC Breakfast Wednesday, the brothers have exceeded their initial fundraising goal of £100,000 ($132,095) for this challenge, per the BBC. They hope to raise £1million ($1.3 million) over their lifetimes.

"We have to keep banging the drum, and we have to keep raising vital funds to make those new treatments accessible to people who need them," Jordan said.

The brothers will run the marathon in April and then from John o' Groats to Land's End, which covers about 1,200 miles, in September. They also shared their family friend, Nigel, 68, will also be running every step of the way with them.