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Abbott and blind athlete to run City2Surf

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will guide a blind athlete on a 14km Sydney fun run on Sunday morning.

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Source: AAP


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EDs: Not for use until 0630 (AEST) on Sunday, August 11.

SYDNEY, Aug 11, AAP - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will run Sydney's City2Surf alongside vision-impaired athlete Nathan Johnstone on day seven of the election campaign.

The pair will be among the 85,000 runners pounding the pavement on the 14-kilometre fun run from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach.

Mr Abbott helped guide Mr Johnstone, 27, during a Sydney marathon in September last year.

Mr Johnstone started losing his sight at age 14 after a degenerative disease damaged his retinas, leaving him with only 10 per cent vision.

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He's aiming to compete at the Rio Paralympics.

As well as running, Mr Johnstone is a keen triathlete.

Mr Abbott will travel to Canberra on Sunday afternoon to face off against Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the first leaders debate at the National Press Club.


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