"Limits are self imposed": Sussex Uni student runs London marathon after overcoming paralysis
Tommy Rawlingson is taking on the race after losing the ability to walk when his body overreacted to an infection in 2022
Last updated 27th Apr 2025
A University of Sussex student who overcame paralysis says "limits are self-imposed", as he prepares to take on the London Marathon.
Tommy Rawlingson will run the 26.2 mile route around the city, after losing the ability to walk when his body overreacted to an infection just five days into starting university in 2022.
"The antibodies that my body had made to fight the disease had ended up inflaming my spinal cord," he explained.
"Over a period of about 24 hours, I went from being really quite fit and able bodied to having no use of anything below my diaphragm."
Tommy was sent to into intensive care, before starting physiotherapy in Haywards Heath, which he described as "really, really tough":
"It was really confusing as well where, it wasn't like a an accident or like a car crash or one of these traumatic things.
"There was no one to blame.
"It was difficult to deal with. But we got there in the end."
He's hoping his story will encourage others to test the limits of what they're capable of.
"I've had obviously going through this whole process and saying I was going to run the marathon and there were a lot of people that were really worried about it, asking why are you doing this?
"And I guess my message to everyone is why not?
"People often make excuses like 'why should I? What's in it for me?'
"But why not see what you can do?
"Limits are really self-imposed, so why not? Why not go and run a marathon? Why not go and break a world record?"
His run will be done in aid of the Spinal Injuries Association, who he credits in aiding his recovery.
"They've helped me a lot in my journey and they help hundreds and hundreds of thousands of other people all across the UK with spinal cord injuries.
"You know, whether it's delivering healthcare packages to people's houses when they can't get out, or whether it's just be being a representative.
"I think it's quite a strange thing having a spinal cord injury. It sort of flips your life upside down and gives you a new life. And I think they kind of represent that that new life isn't as bad as it seems."