‘I was told I’d never walk, now I’m doing the London Marathon’

A Londoner left paralysed from the waist down after being shot in the back and told by doctors he would never walk again is preparing to take on the London Marathon.

Darren Awol was targeted in an unprovoked attack in Anerley, south-east London in 2011. His attacker has never been found.

The former Post Office cashier from Bromley, south-east London, said he had contemplated suicide during long periods of feeling “dark and gloomy” before he “had a conversation with myself” and “built my self confidence”.

He said: “Your limitations are as far as you allow them to be: it’s not about the medal but being able to do something I never thought I’d be able to.”

He added: “My whole thing is just whatever you’re going through, believe in yourself and rely on yourself because ultimately you’ve only got yourself.”

During Sunday’s race, the 42-year-old will be supported by his brother and a physiotherapist he met during his first three months of treatment.

He uses elbow crutches and has splints on each leg to remain balanced but can’t feel as much on the left side of his body.

The south-east Londoner plans to walk at the start and end of the race and along the Embankment and Tower Bridge. He will use a wheelchair for the rest of the route.

“It’s been daunting because I haven’t been in wheelchair for 10 or 11 years so going back to learn how to use a wheelchair has been hard,” he said.

“I’ll be so happy to cross that line – it’s about raising awareness for the next person.

“I want people to think: a guy who defied all the odds did it and they can do it and turn up for themselves.”

• If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, including urgent support, a list of organisations that can help is available at BBC Actionline

He revealed his son, who was aged just two at the time he was shot, was his “biggest motivation” to recover.

He said: “It gave me the momentum to see me walking again.

“Going to the gym is therapy for me: movement is a wonderful medicine.

“If we can uplift each other and change someone’s life, it’s free. No matter what I go through mentally and physically, I show up for life.”

The money he raises will go towards opening a unit for people to train with spinal injuries, multiple sclerosis, strokes and cerebral palsy.