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Guide dog helps blind Somerset woman in marathon bid

Angela Blackwell Left: Vicky Graimes running next to Angela Blackwell in the Brighton Marathon, right: Angela Blackwell sitting in a chair stroking Flynn, her dogAngela Blackwell
Angela Blackwell (in pink visor) has taken up running since she received her guide dog, Flynn

A woman who is registered blind has said her guide dog has given her the confidence to run the London Marathon.

Angela Blackwell, 56, from North Petherton in Somerset, said she could not go out alone once her sight started deteriorating as she was a "liability".

"He has transformed my world," she said of her Labrador Flynn.

Mrs Blackwell will run the 26.2-mile (42.2km) race attached by a hand band to a partner in a bid to raise £2,000 for the charity Guide Dogs.

Angela Blackwell Flynn, a yellow Labrador lying on the floor looking into the cameraAngela Blackwell
Flynn the dog has changed Mrs Blackwell's life

Mrs Blackwell was diagnosed with a degenerative condition called retinitis pigmentosa about 12 years ago.

"Gradually the cells are dying in my eyes," she explained.

She is now registered blind although some peripheral vision remains.

Despite this, she recently ran the Brighton Marathon and she is due to take part in the London Marathon on Sunday.

"We're trying to do two marathons within three weeks - so a bit of a challenge," she told BBC Somerset.

Angela Blackwell Mrs Blackwell and Ms Graimes posing for a photo with their medals after running the Brighton Marathon. They are standing with Ms Blackwell's husband and three other men.Angela Blackwell
Mrs Blackwell and Ms Graimes completed the Brighton Marathon on 2 April

Mrs Blackwell trains with her husband as a guide runner.

"He has to slow down because he's way too fast for me," she said.

Although he is also running the London Marathon, Mrs Blackwell will race with her friend and running partner Vicky Graimes, who lives in Brighton.

'Transformed my life'

As her sight deteriorated, Ms Blackwell said she lost her confidence.

"I couldn't go out on my own because I'd fall down curbs and I was just a bit of a liability," she said.

"It just makes you really nervous and really apprehensive about doing things."

Angela Blackwell Angela Blackwell wearing a pink visor running next to Vicky Graimes along the seafrontAngela Blackwell
Angela Blackwell (r) sticks to the same training plan as her guide runner Vicky Graimes (l) so they are "in-sync" on race day

She said Flynn, the guide dog she received four-and-a-half years ago, was "absolutely amazing".

She added: "My guide dog has transformed my life.

"He has restored my confidence and that's led to me running marathons and things like that.

"I would really like to raise more money so that more people can experience that because he gave me my independence back," she added.

Mrs Blackwell and Ms Graimes are aiming to complete the London Marathon in under five hours.

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