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| Home » News » Blind brothers’ bid to race for Sheffield charity
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| Blind brothers’ bid to race for Sheffield charity |
 Two gifted brothers from Sheffield are putting down their musical instruments and putting on their running shoes to take part in the city’s half marathon, despite the fact they are both registered blind.
Kyle and Kurtis Crossland, from Castlebeck, are in training for April’s SIG Insulations Sheffield Half Marathon to raise money for the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind (SRSB), the independent local charity of which they are active members.
The brothers have enjoyed musical success with fundraising gigs at local venues, including Under the Boardwalk, in which they raised £500 for their charity.
Kyle, 21, is a volunteer for SRSB and 16-year-old Kurtis, who will celebrate his 17th birthday a couple of weeks before the half marathon, attends Norton College where he studies music technology, business and English.
They will be running the 13.1-mile course alongside volunteer Ben Wright, who will act as guide.
Kyle said: “When we agreed to run the half marathon we thought we might have been getting pulled round the course on roller skates by guide dogs!
“But apparently we’re not allowed to do that so we’re working hard in the gym at Ponds Forge to get ready for the challenge.
“I’m much more comfortable singing and making music but I’ll run the half marathon if it means raising money for the centre.”
Kyle has recently lost sight completely in his right eye due to an inflamed retina but is keen to prove the life goes on.
Brother Kurtis added: “It’s certainly going to be hard work but it’s important we do our bit to help the charity. SRSB have always been there for all our family and this is our opportunity to make a difference for other clients.
“We’re hoping to raise as much money as possible for Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind to do what we can to make sure that when we return to Mappin Street the centre will have all the resources we didn’t have before such as an IT suite and library.”
Volunteer Ben, 23 from Crookes, is currently studying for a PhD in Medical Science at the University of Sheffield. He said: “My girlfriend’s sister is a volunteer here and has always spoken very highly of the people and the cause.
When the opportunity came up to run the half marathon for the charity I jumped at the chance and I’m looking forward to running with Kyle and Kurtis…I just hope I can keep up!”
RSRB is currently operating out of a temporary base in Darnall while a new centre at their old Mappin Street site is constructed with updated facilities. It is one of the Sheffield Half Marathon’s eight nominated charities for 2008.
The 2008 SIG Insulations Sheffield Half Marathon and 3K Fun Run will take place on April 27 from 9:30am at Sheffield International Venues-managed Don Valley Stadium.nbsp; |
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