A BLIND man is putting running trainers on for the first time to help buy two tandem bicycles for his charity.

Noel Hemmings will run August’s Darlington 10k event to raise money for the Social Club for the Blind and Darlington and District Talking Newspaper Association.

Mr Hemmings confessed that he was not very fit and had done little exercise in the past.

He was named the overall winner of the 2009 Darlington Volunteering Awards earlier this year for his work with the Social Club for the Blind.

He wanted to enter the Great North Run, but there were no places available so, instead, entered the Darlington 10k.

Mr Hemmings, who can see the blurs of shapes and colours but is registered blind, said: “Everyone here is up for sponsoring me. I want to get some sponsorship from businesses too, as well money from friends.

“We are trying to raise money for some tandem bikes for the club. We are looking at a couple of thousand pounds for those.

We have so far come up against brick walls trying to buy them.”

Mr Hemmings, 34, from Darlington, has never raced before.

He will swap his guide dog, Hooch, for a guide runner, Karen Goult, who has been training with him.

He added: “We tried to run with Hooch, but once you take off his harness he becomes a pet dog and he gets quite excited.

“Karen keeps me right. We have just been running round North Lodge park at the moment but she keeps me away from lampposts and other obstacles.”

The race takes place on August 10, with events starting at 9.15am and the main race at 10.30am. For more details contact 01325-388427.