He's legally blind, runs half marathons and needs a job

Joe Fallen is making the most of every opportunity life throws at him - and he wants Whanganui employers to give him a chance as well.

Mr Fallen is legally blind due to a degenerative eye condition but that isn't stopping him accepting challenges that some fully sighted people might baulk at. In March he completed an Outward Bound course at Anakiwa and he is currently training to run the Taupo half-marathon on August 5.

"Outward Bound was a good challenge - we had a group of 10 people who were all legally blind," Mr Fallen said.

"We had to run 3.2km in the mornings - in the dark, though that didn't really matter to us! We did sailing and hiking, including one hike that was 13km, high wire walking and vertical rock climbing. The biggest challenge was the high wire where we were 10 metres in the air."

One of his mates on the course had completed four full marathons and she challenged Mr Fallen to do the Taupo half-marathon (where he will be accompanied by a sighted runner).

"I was beating my mate on the morning runs so she challenged me to have a go at the half-marathon. She put me in touch with a tether runner who is based in Taupo but I've only talked to him on the phone, I haven't actually met him yet. I'll find him on the day - or more likely he'll find me."

Mr Fallen trains at Cooks Gardens, clocking up 16km a day with his 10km training run and walking between his home and the running track. The training has had significant health benefits. He has lost 18kg and has his type 2 diabetes under control. However, he has also lost a lot of shoe rubber.

"I've been through a few pairs of running shoes and they are pretty expensive," he said.

"I need a job so I can pay for more shoes but most companies see us (blind people) as liabilities. I'm visually impaired, not totally blind - my sight has degenerated over the last six years. I'm keen to go out and work but no-one wants to give me a chance which is frustrating."

Mr Fallen has extensive experience working in factory processing environments and he has excellent references. He has been working with Workbridge on his job search and they say he is 100 percent reliable, enjoys repetitive work and has a great sense of humour. Although Mr Fallen would prefer full-time work, he is open to any option. Mr Fallen can be contacted through the local Workbridge office, phone 348 0352.