Mark Pollock
IrelandBiography of Mark Pollock
Mark Pollock is an Irish adventurer and seeker of challenges, who is also blind and paralyzed. The 'Run in the Dark' project was created to raise funds for finding a cure for paralysis. In this project, running symbolizes what the adventurer Mark Pollock lost after an unfortunate accident, and darkness refers to the adventures he sought while being completely blind.
The event appeared to be, to put it mildly, insane. Hundreds of people ran in the darkness and cold of an autumn night, their faces illuminated by neon bands on their arms. One of the runners was 39-year-old lawyer Simone George. Her black hair was flowing, and tears streamed down her eyes. She ran alone with pride, which was the reason for her tears.
The 'Run in the Dark' project by 'Life Style Sports' includes 5 and 10-kilometer races and was launched four years ago. The project was inspired by a truly tragic event - Simone's fiancé, 38-year-old adventurer Mark Pollock, fell out of a window and broke his spine. Three fractures left him paralyzed below the waist. Considering that Pollock was already completely blind before the accident, his fate began to seem unbearable.
To express their support for Pollock and George, this campaign was launched in 45 cities around the world. The funds raised during the campaign are donated to research groups seeking ways to cure paralysis. Their story has already been the basis for a film released in Ireland and soon to be released in Britain. The film tells the story of how Mark lost his sight and how he met his beloved.
Mark's first vision problems started at the age of 5 when he lost sight in one eye due to retinal detachment. Seventeen years later, he lost sight in the other eye. Needless to say, Mark did everything possible to restore his vision, but even two desperate surgeries did not help him save his eyesight. However, absolute blindness did not prevent Mark from achieving success in life. He became an outstanding motivational speaker, which is amazing, and a well-known adventurer, which is truly incredible.
Mark met Simone at a salsa lesson, where she decided to help him learn the movements. Their blossoming romance was almost celebrated with a wedding, which Mark's blindness could not prevent. Unfortunately, just four weeks before the ceremony, Mark fell out of the fateful window. Simone said that Mark's love for adventure never scared her. She knew very well that Mark approached his extreme activities with maximum attention and extremely responsible preparation. Simone always said that everyday routine life often turns out to be riskier than it seems, and in this case, it became a sort of prophecy.
Mark was at home when friends came to visit, intending to watch the legendary Henley Regatta. Tired after a busy day, Mark went to bed, and under circumstances that still remain unclear, he literally 'stepped' out of the bedroom window. Falling onto the concrete, he broke his skull and spine. He spent the next 16 months in the hospital, putting the wedding preparations on hold. Simone took a gap year and spent every day by his bedside. Soon, doctors announced that the spinal cord injury was too severe, and Mark's mobility was unlikely to return.
However, Mark did not want to give up immediately. He was eager to continue seeking adventures around the world, even in a wheelchair. Unfortunately, a trial trip to Norway convinced him of the futility of this endeavor. Mark had to admit that his friends had to take care of him too much for everything that was happening to be considered an adventure. His new life goal became searching for a cure for paralysis, and he now devotes himself wholeheartedly to this cause.
