Professor Geoff Raisman spent 60 years of his life trying to find a cure for paralysis. He's been fired twice and was laughed at often. But finally he helped paralysed Darek Fidyka walk again, and even got him riding a tricycle.
Geoff sadly died two weeks ago but I was lucky enough to interview him about his life and his work.
Here it is - http://www.getinspired365.com/articles/geoff-raisman-curing-paralysis
