Maria, from Preston, served in the Women's Royal Army Corps and the Territorial Army, before suffering dramatic sight loss from Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy in 2003.  This had a catastrophic impact on  her life and in your own words she "wanted to just give it all up, I didn't want to go on living"  But thanks to the support of Blind Veterans UK she has come a long way since then and now she works at St Helens Hospital, Merseyside helping other people with severe sight problems. Next she wants to abseil!