Running buddy for a blind person

27 October 2025

Peter van der Mast (57, on the right in the photo) is a buddy for the blind and visually impaired at the Running Blind foundation. Together, they go running in the park every week. “I enjoy helping others to keep moving. Besides, I get to hear the most interesting stories, and my fitness is improving all the time.”“I worked for a long time, with great pleasure, as an account manager at a company specializing in workwear. Due to health issues, I had to stop working and ended up on benefits. Not an easy period. I am now in a reintegration project and hope to have a paid job again soon.”Sports“I have been running for a long time, good for my fitness and for some distraction. About five years ago, I found the Running Blind foundation on the internet. They offer people with visual impairments the opportunity to be more active by running and/or Nordic walking with a buddy. This is of great importance for this target group, as the fitness of blind and visually impaired individuals is demonstrably affected by their visual impairment. They were still looking for running buddies. I decided to visit them, and at the first meeting, it immediately gave me a good feeling.”Increasingly enthusiasticRunning Blind has 11 regions in the Netherlands and is still growing. “Actually, over the course of the five years that I have been involved, I have only become even more enthusiastic. Of course, as with many organizations, there is a shortage of volunteers. So over time, I was asked if I wanted more responsibilities. That’s how I am now both a regional (Amsterdam) and national board member. Well, that’s just how it goes and I certainly don’t mind. I actually really enjoy it.”

They see very little to nothing, so they rely completely on you. That gives responsibility but also satisfaction.

What it brings me“Being a volunteer brings me a lot of fun things. I often walk with different people, have a lot of personal contact, and hear the most enjoyable stories. And they are definitely there, because a sense of self-deprecation is not uncommon among visually impaired runners.” In addition to the weekly training sessions at Sportpark de Eendracht, they also participate in the Amsterdam and Rotterdam Marathons, and an annual Running Blind day is organized.Trust is essential“My fitness is improving steadily, and I enjoy the weekly training sessions. During running, the mutual trust is crucial. They see very little to nothing, so they rely entirely on you. This entails responsibility but also satisfaction. I hope to continue doing this for a long time and also hope to have sparked interest in some future buddies.”Interview: Jan Barnhoorn
Photo: Marleen Hoogkamp