NELLIE MITCHELL.
I run because I love to and because I can.
Running has always been an integral part of my life. As a young girl, I proudly represented my school and state teams in middle-distance events. I have always been a competitive athlete—and unafraid to push my limits. Over the past eight years, I’ve achieved personal best times, broken several national records in both middle-distance and marathon events, and came remarkably close to representing Australia at the Tokyo Paralympics.
I approach life with a "can do" attitude and thrive on setting new personal challenges. Today, I’m running not just for myself but also for my dear friend Olga, who lives with a spinal cord injury, and for others navigating life with disabilities. I invite everyone to join in—come out and try to beat me!
Vision Impairment
I am a visually impaired athlete with an international Paralympic T13 classification. Sixteen years ago, I was diagnosed with a degenerative retinal eye disease, which has left me with severe central vision loss—a dark, blurry void. I am legally blind, can only see a few meters ahead, and rely on my peripheral vision to navigate daily life without a guide dog or a cane.
The T13 classification applies to runners with visual impairments in both eyes, and it means that I compete without a guide. The reality of my vision loss can be unsettling—not just for others, but for me as well. People often comment, "You don’t look blind." My response is always the same: "What exactly does a blind person look like?
Funding R&D
Mitchell Asset Management’s Innovation Finance Fund focuses on supporting research and development by funding companies dedicated to addressing medical and environmental challenges. A notable investment partner, the University of Minnesota endowment fund, plays a significant role in advancing spinal cord injury research.