Police officer blinded by gunman to run in London Marathon for charity

THE police officer blinded when he was shot by gunman Raoul Moat is training for the London Marathon.

PC David Rathband, 42, said he is taking part in the 26-mile event in April to raise cash for the charity he has set up: the Blue Lamp Foundation.

The charity aims to raise 1 million in three years to help members of the emergency services who are injured on duty.

PC Rathband is hoping his London Marathon run will bring in at least 10,000 in sponsorship.

He is running with a fellow officer, PC Gareth Rees, from Stevenage - who was seriously injured when he was hit by a car in 2008 - and two supporters.

One of those supporters, Robin Palmer, said that PC Rathband's training was already under way.

He said the disappearance of the heavy snow in the north-east had helped with preparations, especially as the injured officer had struggled to balance on indoor treadmills.

"He's stubborn and he will do it," Palmer said.

PC Rathband was blinded when fugitive Moat shot him in the face as he sat in his police car at a roundabout in the East Denton area of Newcastle on 4 July.