A brain haemorrhage and four strokes caused a sports enthusiast from Oxhey to lose her sight, but with the help of “wonderful” volunteers she’s back doing what she loves.

Alison Mead, of Hampermill Lane, said she put on lots huge amount of weight after her illnesses in 2005 but sport of any kind seemed no longer an option.

She looked for ways to get active once more, finally turning to British Triathlon who put her in touch with volunteer guide runner Roz McGinty.

The 52-year-old said Ms McGinty’s help had changed her life – enabling her to take part in parkruns in St Albans and South Oxhey. Her latest accomplishment was completing a sprint triathlon in September. Now she is trying to encourage visually impaired people across south west Hertfordshire to take up running as a way of gaining confidence and making new friends.

Ms Mead, who has guide dog Ted but few family and usually no help, said: “Not being able to see where I am is a bit unnerving sometimes but the enjoyment of running is so much greater than the nerves.

“I rely on sound – listening to the directions from my guide and feeling what I can through contact.

“I’m not worried about tripping or falling when I run because bumps and bruises are more likely to happen when I’m walking along the street. I run because it makes me feel physically and mentally stronger.

“Without Roz volunteering to guide me on triathlons or any of the disciplines I would not be able to take part in some of the sports I love, and without the team of people who volunteer to guide me when I run at parkrun I couldn’t take part in that.”

While Ms Mead has given up sports she used to enjoy, including badminton and table tennis, her new ambitions are to do an Olympic-distance triathlon and run a marathon.

She added: “My advice to any visually impaired person who wants to try running or volunteering is three simple words – do a parkrun.”