ARCHIVED RACE: Run in the Dark @ Stormont Pk, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom on 14 November 2012

The Run in the Dark is in aid of Mark Pollock. It is a mass participation event with simultaneous races taking place in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and London. Mark Pollock is an Irish adventure athlete from Co. Down in Ireland whose life story is truly astonishing. He has suffered setbacks almost beyond comprehension and yet he is an inspiration to the world as his spirit remains truly unbreakable.

While studying at Trinity College Dublin Mark suddenly lost his sight at the age of 22. His world was turned upside down as he redefined his identity and his capabilities both physically and mentally. Mark had always been an athletic person, having represented Ireland in rowing competitions, and he decided to challenge conventional norms and became a world class adventure athlete despite his blindness.

Over the next 10 years Mark Pollock proved an inspiration to many and undertook amazing feats of endurance despite his blindness, gaining the respect of world renowned adventurers such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes and double Olympic gold medalist, James Cracknell. These feats included completing an ultramarathon, which comprised of running 6 marathons over 7 days across the Gobi Desert; racing to the South Pole, which took 43 days at temperatures of -50 degrees, where he dragged sledges, camped and melted ice to make water for survival; completing the Mount Everest Marathon, the world’s highest altitude race and also winning silver and bronze medals for rowing in the able-bodied 2002 Commonwealth games.

In 2010 tragedy struck again and Mark nearly died after a terrible accident in which he fell from a second story window. He fractured his skull, had bleeds on his brain and broke his back which has left him paralyzed. After 18 months in hospital Mark is taking back control of his life and he is currently undertaking his biggest trial yet, that of learning to walk again against the odds.

Mark is a spinal cord injury pioneer. He is challenging conventional wisdom and is currently working closely with Esko Bionics specialists in California to develop a functional form of robotic legs. The Mark Pollock Trust raises funds for this groundbreaking work which focuses on the creation of a usable form of robotic legs for people who are paralyzed. Mark recently received a national ‘Rehab People of the Year’ award in Ireland for all of his revolutionary and inspirational work and he is dedicated to continuing this research so as to change to future and possibilities not only for him but for all people who are paralyzed.