When Joffrid Mackett's daughter Lily was run over by a car in 2016, he said the initial prospects looked grim after she was in a coma for nearly a month.
"She was crossing the road when she got hit, which resulted in pretty significant brain and spinal cord injuries," Mr Mackett said.
"Very early on, we were told cognitively she would struggle and wouldn't be able to move herself from a bed to a chair."
While her injuries resulted in paraplegia, Lily's father says her progress over the past four years continues to amaze him.
"She's been able to overcome a massive number of hurdles and late last year she graduated year 12," Mr Mackett said,
Lily is set to share her story at a global conference on neuroplasticity and rewriting the brain later this year in London, but getting there hasn't proved to be easy.
Mr Mackett said he would be attempting a Guinness World Record next month to run the fastest marathon while wearing a 100-pound (45-kilogram) backpack, in an effort to raise money for the trip. But he won't be running it alone.
Almost 100 people have pledged to cover the 42-kilometre distance over the course of March through any form of exercise
"Instead of a medal, what people get is a beanie knitted by Lily, which has been part of her occupational therapy," Mr Mackett said. "The first one took her 18 months to make, and now she can make one in three hours."
The record attempt won't be the only marathon Mr Mackett will be running in coming weeks.
He'll be competing in The Canberra Times Marathon Festival in April alongside Lily, who will be in a custom-made wheelchair for the event. "When we're competing together in these events, she gets a massive buzz out of it."
- To donate, head online to lilyslegs.com
- The Canberra Times Marathon Festival, presented by Tata Consultancy Services, is on from April 4 to 5. Events include 5km, 10km, half marathon, marathon and ultra marathon distances.
- Register at events.solemotive.com/canberra-times-marathon-festival
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
