Visually impaired runner making strides to eliminate diabetes at Sudbury race

It was 20 years ago that Richard Holloway of Parry Sound, Ont., made a promise to his mother to begin training to run a marathon.

He will be doing his 60th half-marathon this weekend when he travels to Sudbury to participate in the Sudbury Rocks! Race, Run, Walk for Diabetes.

In 1998, Holloway's mother, who was on oxygen andpreparing for a double lung transplant, motivated her son to become more active.

"She was walking on a treadmill training to get her transplant," the 54-year old Holloway recalls. "She said 'You know if I get my lungs you should train and do a marathon,'" he said.

Holloway says two weeks later, when his mother received her new lungs, he began training for his first race. His mother died two years after that.

"Maybe she had an underlying secret to get me off the couch and get my health in order because she probably knew I was going to get diabetes."

Holloway is registered to run the half-marathon in the Sudbury event, which is scheduled for Sunday,May 13, Mother's Day.

"My lucky number is 13.[The race]is on the 13th, and my mom motivated me to run," he said.

Holloway will be running alongside two guides. That's because Holloway is visually impaired.

"They work as my eyes."

He was born with juvenile glaucoma, and has no peripheral vision. He describes his sight as 'tunnel vision'. His eyes are sensitive to the light, and so he wears tinted glasses duringdaylight.

One guideruns in front of Holloway toacts as a pacer, while the other guide is beside him throughout the race.

"They run beside me and if anybody is cutting me off they'll push them away or ask them nicely to move...the first two times."

Holloway also runs with a sign on his back that says 'visually impaired/blind runner' to notify other participants in the event.

Diabetes is an issue Hollowaywants to raise awareness about. That'sbecause he's had sixfriends who have died recently due to complications connected to diabetes.

He says he doesn't think people take diabetes seriously, but the illnesscan affect other things like one's sight, limbs or even someone's heart.

"All these people that I've known...that have passed they just didn't respect [diabetes]. I have a lot of respect for diabetes, because I just don't want to go down that road," he said.

The Sudbury Rocks! race raises awareness and funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Holloway says he's been collecting pledges and has over $250 in donations so far.

Advice for others

"I've always battled weight...I'm a big guy."

Holloway has some advice for anyone who may be interested in starting running or becoming more active.

"Anything is possible, that's the way I look at it," he said.

"It's like lifting weights, running a marathon or climbing a mountain...if you get yourself off the couch you can do almost anything."