A Bishopton man with sight loss has signed himself up to run a split-marathon with his guide dog Quigley to raise cash for a good cause. 

Allan Russel lost his eyesight in 2001 to an inherited degenerative condition called Leber's Congenital Amaurosis.

He plans to take on the Marathon Mates challenge with his 27-year-old daughter, Laura and five-year-old dog, Quigley as they aim to raise funds for a charity close to Allan's heart. 

The trio will run the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles) during the month of September. 

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Allan has said he looks forward to "pounding" the streets around Dargavel Village as he raises cash for the Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland.

He said: "We've all been working from home during the lockdown period.

"I haven't done much running since I was in the high school athletics team, competing around Scotland. 

"I will be pounding the streets around Dargavel Village, where I live, beside Bishopton. I have a route I've planned with a circuit that's two miles. 

"My daughter Laura will run in Renfrew, where she lives, and we will keep in touch via our Smartphones. We're going to do 13.1 miles each, probably two or four miles a day, depending on work and the weather. But if we get through it quickly, we may go for the 26.2 miles in one go.

"Quigley, my guide-dog, turned five in May. If we do more than two miles a day, I'll need to make sure his paws are ok, as the ground can be quite rough in parts and he's never guided for that kind of constant distance. This can be very mentally tiring for him.

"I'm still wondering why I chose to do it with no sighted guiding in a busy area, and in September when, let's face it, the Scottish weather may be a little harsh. I am actually looking forward to it though.

"With Covid-19 hitting the charity sector hard, it's more important than ever to try to support their great work and I can't encourage others at such a difficult time without actually stepping up to the plate.

"RNIB was there for me when I lost my sight and helped me regain my IT skills and get my mojo back. And through their volunteering scheme, I found employment again.

"I know, first hand, what a positive and tangible difference RNIB makes to the lives of blind and partially sighted people. It's vital we all do what we can to help the charity whether the coronavirus storm, to be there when people need them, and to show that sight loss is not the end of the road."

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James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: "Marathon Mates is open to every kind of pair, whether you team up with an old running buddy, a guide-runner if you have sight loss yourself, or a partner who hasn't worn trainers since the 90s.

"You can support each other through every mile and every penny you raise towards your joint £150 sponsorship target. Whether you run side-by-side or as a virtual pair, you’ve got each other’s back.

"Like almost every charity, RNIB's usual fundraising events have had to be constrained or even cancelled outright during the current situation. So we want to find ways to help those who support us to take part in something that's fun, worthwhile, and not too onerous.

"Marathon Mates is a great way to keep fit with a partner or friend and raise funds to help blind and partially sighted people, many of whom have struggled in recent months with isolation, social distancing, and access to information and shopping."