AN inspirational amputee will use new technology to compete in his second Great North Run this weekend before turning his attention to the Paralympics.

Lee Boxall will run in the world’s biggest half-marathon with a new carbon fibre lower right leg.

He had his leg amputated below the knee in October 2004 at the age of 26, following a motocross accident about 18 months earlier.

Mr Boxall, from Darlington, was performing a jump, which went wrong when he landed underneath his bike, and its weight crushed his foot.

He had a series of operations to try to save it. They were all unsuccessful and so he had his foot amputated.

Mr Boxall said: “It was the best thing that could have happened at the time. I had a foot I couldn’t use and I had been on crutches.

“Before it happened, I knew it was coming. I knew it wasn’t solvable. I made the decision, which was a tough one, but I have never looked back.”

Before the accident, he kept himself very active, regularly attending the gym as well as being a keen runner, cyclist and swimmer.

Mr Boxall, originally of Peterlee, said: “It (the amputation) has not changed anything.

I still drive, I still go cycling, still go swimming.

“The biggest difference is getting used to people’s inquisitiveness.

That is part of the reason for doing the run – that disabilities are part of society.”

He ran the 2005 Great North Run – only 12 months after his operation – in a little more than three hours.

Mr Boxall, now 31, has two NHS prescription legs but is running this year’s race in a trial leg. It has a carbon fibre blade similar to one used by one of the most famous Paralympians, Oscar Pistorius, who is dubbed Blade Runner.

This year he will be running with a spare leg in case of emergencies, but is aiming for a time nearer two hours 30 minutes.

Having done his first Great North Run to raise money for children’s charities, he is now raising money for Muscular Dystrophy. It is a disease from which his mother’s partner suffers.

Once he has completed Sunday’s race, he will be gearing up towards his next challenge of the 2012 Paralympics in London.

He has already met sports administrators, but has yet to decide on a chosen discipline.

He hoped to either compete at a shorter running distance, rowing or cycling.

He said: “I have to get fitter and fitter but it is a possibility.

It would be amazing to make it.

“It would be a complete turnaround from being on crutches to do that.

“There are a lot of things I want to do in life but flying on motorbikes isn’t one of them any more.”

To sponsor, Mr Boxall, visit justgiving.com/leeboxall