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.
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"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,
"She was told early on she was never going to walk again, but she firmly believes that if she keeps working and confronting challenges head on she'll get there."
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 backpack, or 45kg, in an effort to raise money for the trip.
"The current record is being held by a US soldier, and is six hours and 27 minutes," he said.
"Luckily one of my work colleagues is ex-military and they've been giving me guidance on how best to use the packs."
I was thinking it would only be about 10 friends and family members being involved and at last count it's at 95.
- Joffrid Mackett
While the Gordon resident will be the only running the marathon itself next month, he won't be doing it alone.
Almost 100 people from the Canberra community and even overseas have pledged to cover the 42-kilometre distance over the course of March through exercise, whether it was walking, running or bike riding with everyone pledging donations for the cause.
"It's about building a community of people who are supportive of each other," Mr Mackett said.
"Instead of a medal, what people get is a beanie knitted by Lily, which has been part of her occupational therapy since the car accident.
"The first one took her 18 months to make, and now she can make one in three hours."
Mr Mackett said he had been blown away by the community support and people rallying around Lily.
"I was thinking it would only be about 10 friends and family members being involved and at last count it's at 95," he said.
"It's been very humbling and quite unexpected to have the amount of people reach out."
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, she says it feels like we're running together again," Mr Mackett said.
"When we're competing together in these events, she gets a massive buzz out of it."
- To donate: visit 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