A visually impaired pensioner is running the Morrisons Great Birmingham 10k on May 3, alongside his grandson for Birmingham-based charity, Focus.
Pat O’Neill, 73, a retired banker from Kings Norton, lost his sight in 1976 due to Eales disease. He is running alongside 17-year old Thomas Long as a thank you for sight-loss charity that has supported him for over six years.
He explained: “When I lost my sight I had to re-learn to do everything and gradually get my life back. It was a very difficult time, I had to adapt to a whole new lifestyle and I would not have been able to cope if it wasn’t for the support of the people around me.
Focus does amazing work; they go out to people’s homes and teach them how to manage everyday tasks, they also give them opportunity to get out and socialise. It’s a cause very close to my heart and I just want to help.”
Pat ran his first marathon aged 53. He went on to run the Dublin marathon six times and the London Marathon four times. The Great Birmingham 10k is taking place two weeks before his 74th birthday.
He is also very involved in his community; he is governor at South and City College in Birmingham as well as chairman of Pat Benson Boxing Academy in Digbeth.
“I just want to show people with disabilities that they can get support, that there is always someone to help you. When I needed help I found it and now it’s time for me to help others,” O'Neill concluded.
He hasn’t set himself a specific target for this event but hopes to raise as much as possible before he starts training the Great Birmingham Run later this year!
