Guide Nik gives visually impaired Hamilton woman the freedom to run

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An inspirational, visually impaired Hamilton woman and her trusted guide runner are urging people with a disability to embrace the therapeutic qualities of sport as they prepare to pound the roads of Newcastle together in the Great North Run.Ruth Forrest was born with rare birth defect congenital cataracts, and went on to develop glaucoma, where the optic nerve – which connects the eye to the brain – becomes damaged due to a build-up of fluid.Bullish Ruth, who is living with severe sight impairment, says “it’s probably a good thing” that she has no memory of the little sight she had as a toddler.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android “When that is all you have known, you just crack on,” said a sanguine Ruth. “Most importantly, it has never stopped me doing things in life.”Lockdown posed tremendous challenges for many people, and none more so than those who have a visual impairment.Ruth, who lives with husband Reza in The Furlongs area, says her life “shut down” during the pandemic.Yet, her mantra that visual impairment will not define her is what inspired Ruth to inquire about taking part in the Great North Run.“I said to my husband: ‘I would like to do that at some point.’ He said: ‘I don’t know how that is going to work.