The second annual Vision 5K UK race took place in Roundhay Park in Leeds on Sunday 28 June 2009. It was organised by Sense to raise £5,000 for Sense services across the north of England.
The five kilometre race was open to anyone and is unique on the running circuit as many runners choose to take part blindfolded with a guide to experience some of the challenges blind people face.
The race marked the end of Deafblind Awareness Week.
Over 50 runners turned out on the day including Sense staff, their families and deafblind people who use Sense services in Leeds and Rotherham. It was the first time that some of the deafblind runners had ever done anything like it and they found the day a complete sensory thrill! 
Emmerdale stars Kitty McGeever (Lizzie Lakely) and 11-year-old Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle) blew the whistle to start the runners.
Kitty McGeever, who is registered blind and has recently joined the soap’s cast, said:
“This is a fun family race to give people an insight into some of the challenges faced by deafblind people and I enjoyed supporting Sense on the day.”
The day was a buzz of sensory activity including face painting and masks. Two lucky runners took home a Sony CD player as prize for the most creative blindfold masks. Brother and sister Madison (10) and Callum (12) Radford created flashing Flash Gordon masks to help them be a little speedier around the track.
But the swift pair were out run by the winner, Julian Cork from Pontefract in Leeds, who ran the distance of five kilometres in under 23 minutes.
Runner Madison said: "I wanted to take part in the race as I really enjoyed it last year and wanted to supported Sense again. It really opened up my eyes to the issue of deafblindness and so that's why I did the race with a blindfold".
Watch the video of the race:
