Disabled man aims to walk across finish line of Sydney marathon

Steve Millar and brother-in-law Phil Moon on their first run. Steve wll be competing in the Sydney marathon. Photo / Supplied

By Joel Kulasingham

If Auckland man Steve Millar achieves his goal of walking across the finish line of the Sydney Marathon next month, he will have conquered much more than just a marathon.

Millar will be pushed in a specially designed chair by a team including his brother-in-law Phil Moon. The goal is to have him walk, with assistance, across the finish line.

In April last year, Millar, 41, was unexpectedly rushed off to hospital after suffering a massive bleed on his brain called arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a very rare condition.

After surgery and 10 months in hospital, he moved back home but was unable to move the right side of his body and could not verbally communicate, despite being able to fully understand everything.

Millar has since made steps towards recovery but is still on a long journey of rehabilitation.

Tina Millar, Steve's wife, says it's been a tough journey but she has faith Steve will be able to walk and talk again.

"He was a very active, outgoing kind of guy. He was always doing stuff.

"This is a big sort of change for all of us. It's certainly a very different Steve that we all have.

"I knew in my heart of hearts that he would pull through this and I have every faith that he's going to walk again and talk again."

Steve Millar will be pushed in a specially designed chair by a team including his brother-in-law Phil Moon, right. The goal is to have him walk, with assistance, across the finish line. Photo / Supplied

The idea to participate in the Sydney Marathon came from Steve's friend and brother-in-law Phil Moon.

"He and I used to go out cycling together and did quite a bit. We did a couple of events as well and he just really enjoyed them," says Moon.

"I posed the idea and asked how about we do a marathon or run or something and I'll push you in a wheelchair, and he just lit up.

"He was so happy at the idea that we could do something and just get out of the house."

Since then, they have been training three or four times a week towards the Sydney Marathon on September 17.

"He just takes it in his stride; he puts a hundred per cent effort in.

"He's an extraordinary man and that's why it makes it so much easier to do it all."

Moon says he hopes Steve's story of hope will encourage others in similar positions and help raise awareness about AVM.

"It's about not giving up ... and allowing others that are in a similar predicament [to know] that they can do things and there are options."

To assist with the funds needed for Steve's ongoing physical therapy in his long term goal to walk again, visit the Millars' givealittle page.