“Running together is very intimate”

Daniel: “I prefer to be at home in Amsterdam, but to pay all the bills, I work as a steward at KLM, so I travel all over the world, which I really enjoy. In addition, I have been the husband of the sweetest man in the world for 22 years. For the past two years, I have been a buddy at Running Blind Amsterdam.”

“I guide fellow runners who cannot (or no longer) see well, so that they can still run. The sport we share together. I am the eyes for a fellow runner, so to speak. I have been a pacer at marathons for years – a pacer is a very experienced runner who can maintain a steady pace, and in this way sets the pace for a group of followers, enabling them to finish at a pre-agreed time. This is how I got in touch with Running Blind, they were looking for buddies.”

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Intimate

“Sports are great. And good for body and mind. For me, it’s natural to put on my running shoes and go for a run. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the visually impaired. They also really want to do sports, but they depend on a buddy for this. That’s why I want to help them. Running together in this way is very intimate. Trust is essential. We set goals together, and work towards them by enjoying a good training session together. It makes them stronger, more confident. This keeps me motivated to continue doing this.”

Marathon New York

Together with five visually impaired individuals and nine other buddies, Daniel aims to run the New York Marathon this year. They are still looking for sponsors to help them financially. If you would like to contribute or are interested in becoming a buddy at Running Blind,Look here.

Photos: Annelies Scheepens