At the KL Standard Chartered Marathon 2023, amidst the sweltering heat and cheering crowds, an endearing sight caught the attention of many: a dedicated father pushing a trolley with his 15-year-old daughter lying inside, her face lit up with joy.
This touching moment quickly went viral, and netizens couldn’t hold back their tears.
The reason? His daughter, Nur Wadihan has cerebral palsy and is completely immobile. In fact, she requires meticulous care, much like a 5-month-old infant, for her entire life.
However, the unconditional love and resilience demonstrated by the 48-year-old father were undeniably palpable.
But the emotional climax came when he paused just before the finish line, took his daughter into his arms, and carried her across it, symbolizing their shared journey and struggle.
“I do this to make her happy”
When approached for an interview by WeirdKaya, the father delved deeper into his reasons for participating in the marathon with his daughter.
“I do this primarily to make my daughter happy. Her joy is palpable when she’s out with us during runs and cycling events,” he told WeirdKaya.
The father shares that her condition is akin to the vulnerabilities of a 5-month-old baby, but with the implication that this might persist throughout her life.
Since 2018, their unique way of participating in events has inspired other families with similar challenges to join in and share in the joy of the experience.
Creating treasured memories and cherishing every moment they have together is another driving force behind their activities. The father shared that they typically undertake a special activity to celebrate his daughter’s birthday on September 18th.
“Every year, I embark on a challenging cycling mission,” he recounted. In 2020, it was a ride to Fraser’s Hill. The pandemic disrupted their plans in 2021. But in 2022, they braved the heights of Gunung Jerai, Kedah, and Wang Kelian, Perlis.
“For her 15th birthday, I had something even more special in mind – a double celebration.”
They planned a hillside cycle in Sumpitan, Lenggong Perak on her actual birthday, but had to postpone it because she was unwell and had to be hospitalized.
“The second part of our celebration was the Half Marathon at the KL Standard Chartered Marathon this Sunday. And that’s the story behind the video that everyone is talking about now.”
@wiradihan Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon 2023 Edisi Anak Syurga Luarbiasa #klscm2023 #bikeisable #lunastella #anaksyurgaluarbiasa #ProApparel #inclusiondisable #Disabledrunbikerun #CerebralPalsy #javabikesmalaysia #mycp #PPDKPermataHati ♬ Love Of My Life – Metrow Ar
