Mark Pollock

Yesterday, the 16th of October 2012, we had a lecture from Mark Pollock. 14 years ago Mark went completely blind due to a detached retina during his final year of college at Trinity. He was studying Business and Economics. Mark was also a very keen rower while in college. Once Mark went blind he stopped everything, he denied that he had gone blind and spent most of his time at home blaming others for his misfortune.
By 2008 Mark had gotten back on to his feet again. He had started his own business and was travelling and giving lectures. He had gotten back into his sport and had won medals at the Commonwealth Games and taken part in many marathons all over the world. He was now preparing to do a 43 day long race to the South Pole. He had two team mates, Simon O'Donnell and Inge Solheim. They raised €100000 and after days of training they went off to Antarctica arriving there on the 16th of December 2008. After weeks of constant skiing (8-10 hours a day) Mark and his team arrived 5th at the South Pole.
In 2010 life put another challenge in Mark's way. After falling off a 2 storey balcony and breaking his back in two places Mark became paralysed from the stomach down. He found it difficult and frustrating to be lying in bed all day not being able to walk.
Now Mark is trying everything to help himself perhaps have the chance of walking again. He has been working with a company called 'Project Walk' as well as using Esko Robotic Legs. He says that even after a year and a bit he is already showing some improvements.
Every year there is a charity run held for Mark in Dublin, but now it has spread to all over the world. There are runs for him in many major cities around the world. The money raised at the run goes towards many various charities. The run is called 'Run in the Dark' (link below) and it will be held on the 14th of November this year.
http://www.runinthedark.org/