A MOTHER who was paralysed and blinded by a massive stroke aged just 28 will take part in the Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday.
Kat Heriot Maitland, of Errol, Perthshire, will compete in the 26.2-mile race in a wheelchair, which will be pushed by her best friend Poppy Baggott.
The women are raising money for Headway Edinburgh, a charity dedicated to supporting head trauma victims and their families.
Ms Maitland, now 30, was a newlywed and had just had a baby two years ago.
She said: "One minute I was about to get in the shower, the next I was hearing blood rushing in my left ear – the blood from the burst vessels whooshing through the veins."
She was inspired to take part in the marathon after the Paralympic Games.
She added: "Even though it may seem like I'm comfortable in this chair, the marathon is really not going to be easy for me.
"What makes the difference is having a team of incredible people supporting me.
"I want to do everything I can to make sure others in my position have access to dedicated support and care for basic things when they need it."
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