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Mitch has a battle to rebuild his life

The silence is deafening as Mitch Cleary's left hand painstakingly completes two rotations of his favourite fishing reel - an effort doctors told his family to never expect.

In recent weeks, Mitch has also been able to lift a fork loaded with food to his mouth. Again, an action that had been considered only a best-case scenario for the rest of his life.

It is two years tomorrow since the 25-year-old was punched twice outside a city nightclub by a trained boxer, who was cleared of any wrong-doing in May last year after successfully claiming he acted in self-defence.

Mitch, left severely brain damaged and confined to a wheelchair by the moment of violence, has no meaningful means of communication.

But sitting in the specialised care unit which has become his home in Victoria Park, he cranes his neck and delivers what appears to be a hopeful stare as his father Mark reveals for the first time publicly his optimism for his son's future.

"Mitch is having a lot of exercise stimulation to regenerate the links in the brain so he can get up and walk and we're seeing some positive signs," Mr Cleary said.

"As soon as he started to breathe over the respirator after about 72 hours we decided our target would be for him to perhaps be independent. He can hold a cup now and raise that and he's started making some noise in the last month.

"Some days you can't shut him up. He's very aware of what's going on and it's nearly like he's locked in. But we've just got to keep working on getting these links working in his brain. Initially, they didn't think Mitch would get to this stage, so it's all a plus."

Across the room, champion WA boxer Danny Green stands with arms folded tight and eyes tearing up as he listens to Mr Cleary's brave, hopeful words.

A leading campaigner against street violence, Green says he is angry that his message was still not getting through.

He said a 50km bike ride from Belmont racecourse to Kwinana Motorplex on March 15 would raise money for Mitch to help his family pay the $3000 a month he needs to complete the programs they hope will help him walk again.

Green was overwhelmed at being confronted by what he described as the "true courage" shown by Mitch and his father.

"It's as courageous as it is heartbreaking," he said.

"You can see Mitch is trying everything and it's an incredible situation when you come and see a strapping young bloke like this affected the way he has been.

"It's not right and I'm almost speechless seeing how it affects a family and this young champion."

Mr Cleary said Mitch, a builder by trade and former surf lifesaving competitor, had been showing significant signs of improvement since December. He was taking part in Edith Cowan University's Walk On trial, plus functional neurology and naturopath programs.

Part of the work included foot massage and using mirrors so he could watch any movement he made to help stimulate his brain.

A strict diet has also helped cleanse his bowel and kidneys.

A friend of the family had organised a "Night in for Mitch" event through Facebook that raised $30,000 to help with the constantly rising costs of Mitch's recovery.

Mr Cleary said the effort and commitment to help his son was starting to pay dividends.

"We had him down the beach last weekend and he locked his legs out when we stood him up in the water," he said.

"That's very exciting and it makes you a bit emotional because it's a hard slog."

The Danny Green Fighting Chance Foundation ride is expected to attract up to 2000 riders and hopes to raise about $70,000 for both Mitch and Foodbank.

Registrations for riders, who can see a spectacular motorsport show at the finish, can be made at www.dgfightingchancefoundation.com .

Last year's ride raised $40,000 for Telethon and featured a 17km trail of bikes riding down Kwinana Freeway.

'It's as courageous as it is heartbreaking. It's not right and I'm almost speechless.' "Champion WA boxer *Danny Green *