Blind motorcycle accident victim prepares for marathon
A man who was left blind after a horrific motorcycle accident will be pushing himself to the limits next month when he attempts to take part in the London Marathon.
39-year-old John Dawson from Cheam in Surrey is being trained by former Olympic athletes Sally Gunnell and Steve Cram as part of a BBC TV show called Run for Glory. The programme has been following his progress along with 13 other contestants who have all overcome various hurdles to participate in the race.
Since his August 2001 motorcycle accident, John has been registered as blind after complications resulting from personal injuries he received when knocked off his bike and run over by a lorry. He was in a coma for two and a half weeks and was treated for severe head injuries, a broken arm and also broken ribs.
But now the former investment banker is putting the past behind him and training hard to be ready for the gruelling 26.2 mile course on April 23rd 2006. He said, "It is very hard but I'm sure I'll get round. If I make it to the start line, I'm sure I'll make it to the finish line.
"It is very difficult, I have got a lack of control of the left hand side of my body and I get a lot of pain."
Run for Glory is shown on Thursday nights on BBC1 and more information can be found at www.bbc.co.uk.
*Where replacement vehicle costs can be recovered from the insurance company of the person who caused the accident.
Where this person is untraceable or uninsured, or where there is a dispute over liability, a replacement vehicle cannot
be provided.
