Blind Paralympian runs length of Ireland to raise funds for sight loss services

A blind Paralympian has run the length of Ireland to raise money for sight loss delivery services.

Peter Ryan ran 586km from Malin in Co Donegal to Mizen in Co Cork over five days.

In the pitch dark and lashing rain, Mr Ryan crossed the finish line at Mizen Head at around 10pm on Thursday evening, having covered the equivalent of 15 marathons.

He was surrounded by friends and family, many of whom had run alongside him during various legs of his gruelling endeavour and stayed by his side to offer support and encouragement.

After being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, at age 19, Mr Ryan worked through the challenges of his vision loss with the support of the National Council for the Blind (NCBI), and by channelling his passion for sport.

Mr Ryan represented Ireland at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 and in 2018 he became the first Paralympian to complete the Race Around Ireland in just 122 hours.

Fittingly, the final leg of his latest challenge coincided with World Sight Day, as funds raised will be donated to the NCBI to aid the development of the country’s first mobile information and eye health awareness unit, the Vision Van.

With 80,000 euro already raised, Mr Ryan said the challenge was the “most demanding thing” he had ever done.

“Crossing the finishing line was a surreal experience, and admittedly a very emotional one, as it began to sink in that I had completed the challenge,” he said.

“I’m just so thankful for everyone who has been by my side since we left Malin Head in Donegal last week, I really don’t think I could have done this without them.

“I have blisters the size of golf balls and I feel a little broken at the minute, but this will pass.

“What will last a lot