An inspirational army veteran who experienced significant sight loss following brain surgery will this weekend run the Edinburgh Marathon with only the aid of a long cane
. For the second time in the space of five weeks, 50-year-old grandfather Steven Waterston will be participating in a marathon in a bid to raise vital funds for charity, Guide Dogs.
“It was my first marathon, and I vowed never again,” he said. I ran in a cheap pair of trainers and my feet were a mess with blisters. While in training, I should have realised that. After the blisters healed, I invested in decent footwear and after that, I was hooked.” “My sight condition is known as a complete homonymous hemianopia. I have total sight loss of the left visual field and I’m partially sighted on the right.”
In August 2009, he completed a college access course to enable him to study physiotherapy. It was during his studies that an inspirational lecturer, Keith – with whom Steven has remained close friends – gave him some harsh, home truths: he was going backwards rather than forwards. “In January 2010 I went to veterans’ rehab centre Headley Court in Surrey for extensive neuro-rehabilitation and did eventually seek help but refused to accept a pharmacological outlet from the doctors and eventually ended up in cognitive behavioural therapy for a year before beginning to reassemble my life, all the while still running – as that was my medicine.
After a couple of years working in small clinics, he launched his own small practice in a converted garage from which he now works to help others deal with their struggles and improve their own physical and mental robustness. He also qualified as a technical official for Scottish Athletics and coaches children and young people aged eight to 18, predominately in middle distance running, two evenings a week.
“Last year, I saw someone wearing a Guide Dogs running vest and decided there and then that I’d come back and run for them. I’m fortunate enough that I don’t need a guide dog, but everyone who has one sings their praises and I know how much support the charity gives to people.
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