Emdad Rahman
A ROUTE THROUGH the Olympic Park in Stratford City saw runners follow in the footsteps of Mo Farah and Usain Bolt and team up for the Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC) Blindfold Run 2017.
The event, organised by the RSBC, saw participants of all ages and abilities run as a pair with one half of the duo wearing a blindfold and their partner acting as the sighted guide. Among the runners taking part were former Southampton star Glenn Cockerill and his wife Angela.
Para-Athlete Souleyman Bah of Team GB is severely sight-impaired due to having Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), which means his vision has deteriorated since early childhood. This renders the 100 and 200 metres star as visually impaired and he therefore qualifies for the T13 bracket of the Paralympic categories.
After taking part in the run with partner Chris Webb-Butler of RSBC and a reunion with his former teaching assistant Ali Kilick, Bah said, “This has been a great experience and important for me as the support of RSBC has been very important for me. I’m really happy to have taken part and given something back.”
Kilick, who took over from Webb-Butler, has been credited by Bah as the man who first recognised his abilities as a sprinter.
•To express your interest in taking part in the RSBC Blind Run 2018, go to: http://www.rsbc.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/blindfold-run-2018/
•Read more about it: Blind Cricket World Cup 2014 Team Ability Bow shine at Big Fun Run
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