Hi, my name is Wali and this is my story.

In 2009, when I was in my second year as a translator and cultural advisor to the British Army in my homeland of Afghanistan, I was blinded by an Improvised Explosive Device. After prolonged treatment I was re-settled in Colchester.

When I lived in Afghanistan I was a good runner and so once in Colchester I began running again to keep fit. My heart was set on running races in aid of British Blind Sports.

Help For Heroes managed to find me a running partner, fellow All Together ambassador Gareth Gailey, and our first goal was to get around the Colchester Half Marathon. After lots of training we then completed the London Marathon in 2019.

Then in June 2019 I entered the Metro Blind Sport Games and won a bronze medal in the 1,500m and a gold medal in the 800m. Both this and completing the marathon are my biggest achievements so far.

I’m now training with my new guide runner Laura and hope to achieve great things in 2020.

My future goal is to run the 6 major marathons across the world and I would like to do an ultra-marathon one day.

I was sighted and got injured but I’ve never, ever surrendered myself to my blindness. I’ve started my new life. I’ve overcome the obstacle. I have a big goal just to achieve great things to inspire others.

WALI from GOOD PLANETS on Vimeo.