When James Morrison began to lose his sight followed by a stroke, movement became his lifeline.

What started as short, uncertain walks gradually turned into something much bigger – building not only his strength, but also a sense of connection and purpose.

From the quiet paths of the canal side to the finish lines of national races, James’ journey is a powerful reminder of how introducing more movement into our lives doesn’t just impact our health.

James’ story

Originally from Aberdeen and now living in Stratford-upon-Avon, James is a full-time carer for his wife.

Although fairly active in his younger years, James slowed down as he got older and stopped exercising completely when his carer responsibilities took over. Over time, he gained weight, reaching nearly 20 stone. Alongside this, his eyesight started to deteriorate.

Soon after this, in 2018, he noticed that he was struggling to identify colours correctly. This led to the discovery of three serious eye conditions that were contributing to a significant deterioration in his eyesight.

At age of 39, he suffered a stroke and his eyesight continued to deteriorate. Now James is only able to see 3m to his right-hand side, meaning he’s classed as blind.

In the face of these challenges, James made a choice: to move forward – literally.

Just before lockdown, he began moving again, driven by the incentive to stay well enough to care for his wife. When restrictions hit, the couple shielded at home and James turned to the Wii Fit for three months, using digital workouts morning and night to kickstart his new lifestyle.

That early commitment sparked something.

He soon started walking Stratford’s Greenway and canal paths, gradually building stamina and confidence. Two years later, he was walking all the way to Meon Vale and back (a 12-mile round trip). Then post-lockdown, James joined the gym, took up running, and hasn’t looked back.

Since then, he’s completed two marathons (including London), six half-marathons, and countless 10Ks and 5Ks – fuelled, as he jokes, by jelly tots and Scottish grit.

Running regularly on a treadmill allows him to train independently, and he’s a familiar face at Parkrun and Pure Gym Stratford, where Zumba is a firm favourite – even if he has danced into a wall or two.

But for James, movement is about much more than fitness:

“Before I was running, I never really knew anyone and felt isolated as a carer. But becoming active has given me the confidence to be around people. I’ve made friends up and down the country through Parkrun, the gym and community groups.”

James now volunteers as a Food Champion, sharing his love of healthy and sustainable cooking with his local community. Whether he’s cross-training or cooking, James is passionate about inspiring others to start small, be consistent, and find joy in the journey.

“Running isn’t about me. It’s about showing what disabled people can do and what they can achieve. We’re not to be written off.”

Not only this, but James has also recently received funding to enable him to train as a Personal Trainer himself. He wants to help others to experience the benefits that adding more movement to your life can offer – from weight loss to better health to enhanced community.

James’ advice for those who are struggling for motivation is: 

“Find a sport you enjoy. There are so many things out there to try. Once you start enjoying it, you’ll want to get better at it, which will motivate you to keep going. 

“Secondly, build it up slowly. Walk if you need to. The more time you spend doing it, the more you’re creating a routine that will become easier to stick to. Too many people give up after months of not seeing results.”