Less than two years after being told he might never walk again, Andy Cunningham is set to defy the odds by running in tomorrow's Cadbury Dunedin half-marathon.
Mr Cunningham's life changed forever in November 2012 when the simple action of leaning forward in the bath caused a disc in his spine to ''explode'', leaving him paralysed from the waist down.
''I leant forward in the bath to wash the soap off my left arm and bang. I had never felt pain like it.''
Within a few minutes, everything below his waist went numb and ''stopped working''.
After being rushed to Dunedin Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery, he was given the grim news.
''I was told there was a good chance I'd never walk again.''
But he wouldn't give up.
From the moment he woke up after the operation, he was determined to get back to a fully active life and has worked on his recovery every day since.
''I love climbing mountains and being out in the hills, and I just decided I would beat this,'' he said.
''There are some days when I do struggle, both physically and mentally, especially when the improvements don't seem to be coming, because nerve-damage repair happens so slowly.
''Quite a large chunk of your identity is gone. I found the hardest part to cope with ... was the fact that it wasn't me.''
His decision to run a half-marathon was made only in the last two weeks after he was persuaded by friend Sarah Chisnall, a three-time winner of the full marathon, who also will be competing tomorrow.
Despite making much progress, his right leg - which took a year to work again after his injury - was still noticeably thinner than his left.
''It's still really weak and I don't have much sensation in it either, so running is pretty challenging.
''I have to concentrate on every step to make sure I don't fall over.''
Because of this, and the fact he had only just managed his first outdoor run since the accident, he was unsure if he would reach the finish line.
''But I will try, and if I can't run it all, I will walk the bits I can't run. I'm absolutely determined to finish.''
His motivation was to inspire others in his position not to give up.
''If I can inspire just one person who is currently recovering from injury to challenge themselves that little bit more, then it will be worth it.''
He knows from experience that seeing others overcome adversity could provide inspiration.
''A few days after the operation, I read an article in the Otago Daily Times about [ODT editorial manager] Philip Somerville climbing Aoraki [Mt Cook] after suffering a terrible injury more than four years earlier, and I thought `that's where I want to go'.''
It helped that he had such a supportive team of people aiding in his recovery, which included the nursing and surgical staff at Dunedin and Wakari hospitals, his physiotherapist Anna Ory and the staff at A+ Physio, the team at the School of Physiotherapy's U-Move programme and friends at Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club.
He also had the support of his wife, Alison, and their dog Meg, who was always keen for daily exercise.
Following in the footsteps of Mr Somerville and climbing Mt Cook was his next big goal.
''A year or so yet, but yes, that is still where I want to go. At the moment, I still have to beat this particular Everest.''
