A disabled man who has experienced his fair share of pain and loneliness is reaching out to others in need and reassuring them that a positive attitude can always pull you through.

Robert Coleman launched his website and Facebook group Win Through in Herts last week.

The 63-year-old said: “I have come through so much in my life and I feel that I owe it to society to do something positive. I also like meeting with people on a one-to-one basis to try and help them where I can.”

The group gives people an opportunity to share their feelings on its chatroom or get in contact with Robert directly and discuss their problems.

Robert lives in Watton-at-Stone and enjoyed a successful career in motoring journalism and marketing before his life took a turn for the worse.

He suffers from Addison’s disease, a disorder where a person’s adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones which can create low blood pressure and anaemia.

In 1982 the disease made him extremely ill and he had to spend six months in hospital recovering.

After being discharged he started rebuilding his life, but then in the last hour of 1999 his wife Tess – who had been suffering for a number of years with cancer – died. This left Robert to care for their teenage daughter Alexandra by himself.

Just as he was recovering, his sight began to fail and meant he was unable to indulge in one of his geat loves – driving.

“I drove a number of luxury cars my favourite being a supercharged Jaguar XKR,” said Robert.

“But when my sight began to fail I knew I’d no longer be able to do this.

“I have come up against a lot of serious problems and I have overcome them because I have a positive attitude. What you dream about and what you believe in will come true.

“So you must always think positive rather than negative thoughts.

“People don’t mean to do that but because they’ve got a negative outlook they never think they can achieve things.

“I think changing this type of attitude is all important. I wouldn’t call myself a life coach, but I would like to try and help.”

For more, email winthrough62@gmail.com. Alternatively you can visit www.winthroughinherts.co.uk.