Bruce Campbell is without question one of the fittest, most physically active 34-year-olds in Nelson Mandela Bay.
He runs vast distances, ride his road and mountain bike even further, paddles raging rivers and shreds the swells in Algoa Bay on his surfboard, like Jordy Smith.
Campbell, however, also has Pompe disease - a genetic disorder in which glycogen builds up in the body's cells.
It hasn't slowed him down though, in fact, quite the opposite. Bruce and his wife, Tracey also have their own training academy called Aspire Livefit Academy where they help folk from all walks of life become the best athlete they can be.
The rare disease community came together this past Monday to mark World Rare Disease Day and Campbell was only too happy to share his story as he also looks to spread hope and solidarity with those fighting severe illness.
Pompe disease is a massively debilitating disease with excruciating moments of pain.
The muscles in Bruce's body are literally torn apart because of the lack of the enzyme which breaks down the complex sugars in his system.
"It's not just my leg and arm muscles, but the muscles in my heart and lungs that are attacked," said Bruce. "I've trained my body, by what I put into it, to become more fat-adapted as a source of energy because it's obviously imperative that I stay away from the sugars."
He has been running the Aspire Livefit Academy for the past four years now, and with the help of Tracey, who is a phenomenal athlete in her own right, they work with mountain bikers, trail runners, surfers, triathletes - you name it - helping them to become fitter and stronger in their chosen disciplines. And they lead from the front, riding and running with their squad as they push each other every day to get faster and faster.
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The dark side to Pompe's disease is that Bruce can't just replace the sugar with the fatty stuff - he needs medical science and the medication that comes with it - to keep him alive.
Every two weeks, he spends two hours painstakingly preparing 28 vials for infusion into his system to replace the enzyme that is missing. The disease is genetic, it's something he was born with and a disease he has learnt to live with since it reared its head in his teens.
"The reality is that I'm married to Discovery, my medical aid," reflects Bruce. "I really can't consider moving abroad because I have chronic cover with Discovery at a staggering R415 000 a month. I'm not sure any health system overseas would be too keen to take me on board. But you know what, Tracey and I just love it here in The Bay. It is the most fantastic place to live and train and we could not be happier."
Campbell is not only an inspiration to those who get to train with him every day, but to many people across the world who have heard his story.
"I write for a US-based publication on my battles with Pompe disease," says Bruce. "I also have people reaching out to me from as far-a-field as the United States and Israel for advice on how to live with this disease."
Bruce Campbell may have to hit the pause button twice a month to administer a life-saving infusion, other than that, you won't find him sitting still.
If he's not flying through the mountain bike trails at Crossways or carving up the surf at his favourite surf spots at Fence near the harbour wall and on the Wild Side, he'll be leading his triathletes over Maitlands at a lung-busting pace.
"I'll be forever grateful that I can do what I love while living with Pompe disease," says Bruce. "Hopefully my story can inspire others and give them the hope, belief and courage to keep fighting."
