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Don't be scared Leo - it's only a 10K run Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
mark pollock trust

Leo Varadkar and Eoghan Murphy go on the run (for charity)

The Fine Gael minister and TD are joining thousands in run tonight for blind athlete Mark Pollock, who was left paralysed in a fall last year.

TRANSPORT MINISTER LEO Varadkar will be concentrating on just one mode of transport tonight – his own legs. He and fellow Fine Gael TD Eoghan Murphy are joining thousands of runners taking part in the Run for Mark in the Dark tonight in aid of the Mark Pollock Trust.

The run takes place at several locations around the country and will raise funds to support the trust which is named after blind athlete and motivational speaker Mark Pollock. Mark lost his sight at the age of 22 but went on to win Commonwealth medals at rowing, become the first blind Irishman to race to the South Pole and took part in many other tests of athletic endurance.

However, an accidental fall last summer left Mark paralysed from the waist down. After battling life-threatening infections and injuries, he is now investigating aggressive physiotherapy methods in the hope of one day walking again.

Registration for the various runs around the country tonight is now closed but see www.run4mark.com if you would like to come and cheer on the runners (including Varadkar and Murphy if you like – their race takes off at 7.30pm at the Front Square, Trinity College, Dublin…)

Read: Blind adventurer facing fight of his life – and you can help>

Read: Eoghan Murphy on the euro – and whether we can live without it>

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