Toronto woman completing 10 triathlons in 10 provinces after mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis

When Stephanie Fauquier crosses the finish line of her 10th triathlon this summer, her mother will be close to her heart.

The Torontonian has two pictures of her mother — renowned Canadian surgeon Dr. Robin McLeod — stitched inside the jersey she's worn across the country on her 500-kilometre fundraising journey.

"She is the reason I'm doing this," Fauquier said.

McLeod was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease two years ago. She became one of approximately 750,000 Canadians who live with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia; many of whom require round-the-clock care.

Inspired by her mother's experience, Fauquier launched the Race with Steph initiative to raise awareness about the neurodegenerative disease, which slowly destroys memory, cognition and, eventually, the ability to carry out simple tasks.

Over the last four months, Fauquier has raced in nine triathlons in nine provinces, beginning on May 28 with the Victoria Half Ironman in B.C. Fauquier finished that 113-kilometre triathlon with a broken toe.

So far, Fauquier says she's raised over $300,000. Her 10th and final race is an Ontario homecoming. She'll be lacing up for the last time on Sunday for the Barrelman Half Ironman in Niagara Falls.

Even before her diagnosis, Fauquier sys her mother started showing memory loss and aphasia — a disorder affecting the ability to communicate.

"This isn't an Ontario issue—it's a Canada-wide issue," she said. "What better way than to bring attention to a disease that is really terrible and horrifying than to race across the country?"

WATCH | This triathlete stitched photos of her mom in her suit so she's close to her heart

Fauquier says the money will be donated to the University of Toronto, where her mother used to work. But specifically the university's Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, which is a global leader in understanding degenerative brain diseases.

The funds will go towards creating an endowment fund, named in McLeod's honour, that will support a professorship in Alzheimer's research, said the centre's director, neuroscientist Dr. Graham Collingridge.

"We can recruit a young scientist with new techniques, new ideas and provide them support for their entire career," he said.

Philanthropic donations and fundraisers like Fauquier's are essential for medical research, Collingridge says, because acquiring government grants and awards is highly competitive.