GUIDE dog owner Geraldine Looney from Limerick city is set to complete the Cork Mini Marathon next month as the 2014 running ambassador for Irish Guide Dogs.
Geraldine, who is now based in Cork city, became visually impaired aged 16 following an accident and has a guide dog called Irv.
She began training in April with her sighted guide Kieran Reilly, who runs alongside her with each holding one end of a hairband.
“As he runs along and turns left or right, I feel the movement in the hairband. He also gives me verbal feedback as we go,” she explained.
Geraldine recently suffered some ankle and ligament injuries that mean she will unfortunately have to walk the race rather than run it.
“I’ll certainly be participating in the Cork Women’s Mini Marathon but as a walker instead of a runner. I’ve tried lots of times, started training after lots of rest but my weak ankle gets sore again. You have to listen to and respect your body and I’m afraid running isn’t working for me.”
To follow Geraldine’s blog, log on to www.guidedogs.ie, or to find out about running or walking the Limerick Mini Marathon on October 26 to raise money for Irish Guide Dogs, email fundraising@guidedogs.ie.
To anyone thinking of taking part in the Mini Marathon this autumn, Geraldine says: “Go for it. There’s huge personal benefit and Irish Guide Dogs is such a fabulous, worthy cause. I’ve benefited from their services for nearly 20 years. The freedom and independence they’ve facilitated for me has been life-changing.”
