http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_i-lost-my-sight-not-vision-says-henry-wanyoike_1334112
'I lost my sight, not vision', says Henry Wanyoike Sherine Paul / DNA, Wednesday, January 13, 2010 0:00 IST Mumbai: When he was 12, Henry Wanyoike decided that he would be a runner. The Kenyan lost his eyesight due to illness seven years later but did not let anything come in the way of his goal. The Paralympic gold medalist, world track champion and nominee of the prestigious Laureus Sports Award, kept his promise. Wanyoike, who is here to compete in the half-marathon (Mumbai Marathon), recalled the day he lost his sight. “It was in April, 1995. I suffered a stroke which paralysed the left side of my body. I was just 19 then. It was a huge shock and a major setback,” he said. Fighting against all odds, he decided to follow his dream. “There was no support from my family. I lost many friends too. We did not have enough money for a surgery. But I was determined to fight.” Together with his guide and childhood friend Joseph Kibunja, Wanyoike started training so that he could run again. Joseph, who was a carpenter by profession, now accompanies Henry as his guide in marathons. “I feel really fortunate to have become a runner as I never knew that I had that talent in me,” he said. The duo hopes to complete the course in 1 hour and 20 minutes. Henry had a training session with a few young women from the Hamara Foundation at Marine Lines on Tuesday. End of text Prashant To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
