An avid runner left paralysed after a road crash will also benefit from the efforts of a Bermuda Day Half Marathon runner this year — and this runner will be pushing a lawnmower!

Al Woods, who is 56, is an official participant in the May 24 Derby tomorrow. The St. David's man will run the 13.1 miles with approximately 650 others — but he is expected to be the only one accompanied by a piece of landscaping equipment.

The stunt is being done to raise funds for Jason Minors' medical expenses. Mr. Minors was involved in a single vehicle accident in May last year.

He was overtaking a car on North Shore Road when he saw a van in the middle of the road and swerved to avoid it. Instead of hitting the van he smashed into a sidewalk railing.

Within minutes he was rushed to the hospital and then flown overseas where he underwent several operations.

He is now confined to a wheelchair and goes to physical therapy three times a week. The medical costs have not slowed down for his family either.

His mother Cynthia Minors said he underwent an operation in Bermuda just last week, to deal with an infection on one of his legs.

"He is doing well, we are going to watch the race together," his mother said. "Jason was a big runner before the accident but he never ran in the race."

She said many people remember Jason's love of running. He used to run home to Hamilton Parish from work in Warwick. He was also a keen footballer with Vasco Mariners.

Mr. Woods, who is a van driver for the English Sports Shop, said he expected to do the race in two hours and 40 minutes and was looking forward to raising funds for Jason.

She said: "I know his mother and I know that they are in need of funds because treatment is very expensive.

"I figured I should do this to help out. I don't think it will be hard because I am fit and have been training lots, I also have God on my side."

People can donate money to Jason's medical expenses through Bank of Butterfield account 20030060995335200 or Capital G account 77001086.