I I learnt to walk with my son, now I'm running a marathon

After two years in hospital, following a severe traumatic brain injury, I was told I would never walk again. I was determined I would prove them wrong.

My inspiration was my 18 month old son. He was just learning to walk. The race was on!

From dealing with both of our nappies when I first left hospital, to supporting us both to learn to walk, my devoted wife Liz has been a rock.

Though we met just under a year before my accident, Liz has been by my side through my whole recovery, including doing a triathlon with me six years after I left hospital. The medics couldn't believe my miraculous recovery.

I ran my first marathon ten years after my injury, and I'm even fitter now than before. I'm determined to continue to defy the odds, and returning to NZ to run the Auckland marathon is my next challenge.

Brain injury survivors need support and inspiration on the long road to recovery. There can be setbacks, but it's important to keep focused and not to lose hope.

The brain is incredibly adaptable, and there is a chance things will turn out better than predicted. I want to take something positive from my experience and use it to inspire other survivors to be resilient - to stay focused on the best outcome for themselves and to become as good as, or even better than before.