A MAN left paralysed from the waist down after the Manchester Arena terror attack will take part in a 10k run tomorrow - almost a year to the day of the bombing.

Martin Hibbert, who lived in Wibsey, but has since moved to Bolton, was left with injuries described as the equivalent of ‘being shot 22 times at point blank range’ and suffered a T10 complete spinal injury when he was stood just 10 metres away from the bomb when it detonated.

But the 41-year-old football agent has defied the odds and is determined to complete the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run in under an hour.

He will take part in a racing wheelchair alongside former Paralympian Richie Powell and best friend Lee Freeman.

Mr Hibbert said: “Anyone who knows me knows how determined I am.

“It’s going to be a huge challenge for me to use my arms to push myself around the course, but I will do it.

“Richie and Lee have been a huge support and have been at my side throughout the whole of my training and it will be a proud moment for me personally when we cross the finish line.

"With it being so close to the anniversary of the attack, I just had to come and take part in the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run.”

He added: “I want to show the terrorists that they aren’t going to stop me doing anything and it has in fact made me even stronger and determined to prove them wrong”.

Mr Hibbert hopes to walk again in the future and recently underwent pioneering treatment in Australia which saw him regain movement in his toes after just two days.

He has more treatment planned for later in the year, but in the meantime is focused on setting up the Martin Hibbert Charity Foundation, to raise £1 million for the hospitals that saved his and his daughter’s life.

“I wasn’t sure how much money I could raise, and then Richie suggested we go for £1 million in the first year,” he said.

“The money will go to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Salford Royal and Southport Spinal Unit, because without them we wouldn’t be here.

“It’s a huge amount of money, but if I can raise that for them it would be incredible.”

Two of his friends, Lee and Katherine Kibble, have raised almost £20,000 for Mr Hibbert by completing a series of challenges, and they will both be taking on the Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run with a team of 20 others.

He said: “There are lots of people taking on the 10k to raise money and I’m so overwhelmed by the support I’ve received so far.

“Without this help the future would look very worrying and after going through what we’ve been through over the last 12 months, worrying about finances is the last thing I want to be wasting time and energy on.”

To support Mr Hibbert's fundraising efforts, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/themhcf

A minute's silence will be held on Tuesday at 2.30pm in Centenary Square, Bradford, in remembrance of those who lost their lives and the many others affected in the attack. The service will be attended by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Zafar Ali, and the Very Reverend Jerry Lepine, Dean of Bradford.

Before the minute’s silence, the Very Reverend Jerry Lepine Dean of Bradford will lead with words and prayers at 2.20pm.

People are welcome to attend to observe the silence and pay their respects.