A PRO golfer will lay down his clubs and take up running shoes, a bike and goggles as part of a charity triathlon.

PGA professional golfer Andy Taylor will be raising money for the Alzheimer’s Research UK when he tackles Blenheim Triathlon in Woodstock on Saturday.

The event will see Andy aim to raise �1,000 for the cause, one of the country’s leading dementia research charities.

He will be spurred on by thoughts of his dad, Alec, a Letchworth GC resident who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his 70s.

Andy, himself a respected golf coach, was brought up in the town and turned professional at the age of 17 at Letchworth Golf Club.

He said: “My dad Alec was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his late 70s and it’s been awful to see this cruel disease rob him of his abilities bit by bit and chip away at his precious memories. He’s one of hundreds and thousands of people across the country going through the same - it’s dreadful to think there’s so little funding for research to find new treatments. I’ve got my dad to thank for my love of sport.”

About the triathlon, he added: “I’ll start by swimming 750m of open water, followed by a 20km cycle and finish off with a 5km run. Before I started training I hadn’t swum or got on a bike in decades. I don’t care how long it takes me, I just want to complete the triathlon and raise loads of money for pioneering dementia research.”

Miranda Mays, community fundraising manager for Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We can’t thank Andy enough for his continued support and for taking on this mammoth task. Every �20 he raises will pay for an hour of vital research, bringing us closer to finding ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure dementia.”