Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT)’s Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Haseeb Ahmad, who is registered blind, ran both the London Marathon and the Manchester Marathon in two consecutive weekends (3 October and 10 October).

Being registered blind, Haseeb needs a guide to assist him on the route. He was 18 miles into Sunday’s Manchester Marathon when his guide runner had to drop out. Haseeb was keen to get over the finish line and decided to ask another runner, Stuart Whitehouse from Leeds– who was a complete stranger to Haseeb – for a helping hand.

Haseeb said: “Stuart did not hesitate to help me. We cheered each other on to get us through. I think we will be lifelong friends.””

Stuart Whitehouse said: “I was really struggling at the point when Haseeb asked for help but it really gave me some inner strength. It happened for a reason and I’ve made such a great friend.”

Haseeb ran the lengths to help LPT’s service which looks after people with Huntington’s disease (HD) to keep their specially adapted vehicle on the road aiding service users with HD to get around and can experience days out.

Mill Lodge in Narborough cares for people with HD. As their condition worsens, people with HD experience involuntary movements and difficulty in sitting up without support from a special wheelchair. Often the wheelchairs are too big for even wheelchair friendly taxis. Our HD patients just want to do normal things like visit the hairdresser or go to the cinema but transport can be difficult. Find out more about the vehicle.

Despite losing his sight from the age of ten and being completely blind by age 17, Haseeb is a former Great Britain ParaTriathlete, winning several medals for the triathlon. He became the world’s fastest blind iron man in 2016. Haseeb was also recently named as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK, appearing on the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list.

Raising Health is LPT’s charity and is supporting Haseeb with the Miles for Smiles appeal. To find out more or to make a donation, please visit:  https://www.raisinghealth.org.uk/appeals/miles-for-smiles