Blind man gears up for desert ultra-marathon

From Belfast Telegraph - 23/08/2003 (200 words)

By Marie Foymfoy

A BLIND Belfast-born man aims to run six marathons in seven days across the Gobi desert in China .

Mark Pollock , (27), a Commonwealth rowing medallist, will face temperatures as high as 40C and run up to 40km a day across rocky plains, lake beds and sand dunes carrying a 30lb back pack.

The first blind Irishman to attempt the challenge, he will be accompanied by his flat-mate Nick Wolfe and will race with 99 other "ultra marathoners".

He is making a documentary on the challenge which starts on September 7, with an independent production company in Dublin .

Mark, who won the Sportsperson with a Disability Award at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards earlier this year, is appealing for funds.

He hopes to raise around 35,000 in sponsorship for his chosen charity, Sightsavers International, which aims to treat the 36 million people in the world who have curable blindness.

"I can't wait, but it will be pretty tough," said Nick, who is carrying out postgraduate research at Trinity College into high performance teams.