An army veteran who is suffering from sight loss is planning on running the London marathon with a white cane

Steven Waterson says running was a 'coping mechanism' after he suffered a brain hemorrhage.

Steven Waterson began to lose his vision after operations following two brain hemorrhages and other health problems.

However the 46-year-old is still a keen runner and his next challenge will be the London marathon.  The former army chef has received support from the charity Scottish War Blinded after losing his left field of vision following surgery, and reduced vision on his right.

In 2014, Steven ran part of the Queen's Baton relay in Midlothian for the Commonwealth Games.  Steven says, "There’s always something positive you can take out of a race.

“I was intrigued by marathons – every year I’d watch London and I knew one day I’d get to one.”  After a brain haemorrhage in 2003, Steven was found to have arteriovenous malformation – where high pressure arteries are connected to low pressure veins, risking rupture.

As well as sight loss,  Steven also suffered paralysis on his left side.  Steven said running was “a coping mechanism” after his first bleed.

posted Thursday April 11th