Malaysian father pushes daughter with cerebral palsy across Kuala Lumpur marathon finish line

MALAYSIA: A heartwarming story of a father and daughter has captured the hearts of TikTok users, as they recently completed a 21-kilometer half marathon together.

Wira Sudepja Rabu, the devoted father, shared a touching video on his TikTok account on Tuesday (3 Oct). This video showcased his incredible bond with his daughter, Nur Wadihan, affectionately known as Dihan.

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Dihan has a severe form of cerebral palsy, which renders her unable to move her limbs, speak, or feed herself independently. Nevertheless, her loving father is determined to give her the best experiences in life, including participating in outdoor activities that bring her joy.

The one-minute video posted by Wira depicted Dihan’s excitement as her father pushed her in a specially designed carriage during the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM).

With the assistance of a friend, they embarked on this inspiring journey together through the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Wira revealed that their participation in the KLSCM was a heartfelt way to create special moments, coinciding with Dihan’s 15th birthday.

As they neared the finish line, Wira tenderly carried Dihan in his arms, and together, they completed the race, cheered on by supportive onlookers.

Through his Instagram account, Wira shared their achievement of finishing the marathon in three hours and 47 minutes.

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Quoted from WeirdKaya, Wira explained his motivation for participating in marathons with his daughter, stating, “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 likened Dihan’s condition to that of a 5-month-old baby, with the implication that these challenges may persist throughout her life.

Their unique approach to participating in events has inspired countless families facing similar challenges since 2018.

Creating cherished memories and treasuring every moment together is another driving force behind their activities.

Each year, they undertake a special activity to celebrate Dihan’s birthday, which falls on 18 September.

In 2020, it was a challenging cycling mission to Fraser’s Hill, but the pandemic disrupted their plans in 2021.

In 2022, they conquered the heights of Gunung Jerai, Kedah, and Wang Kelian, Perlis.

For Dihan’s 15th birthday, Wira had something even more special in mind—a double celebration.

They initially planned a hillside cycle in Sumpitan, Lenggong Perak, on her actual birthday, but it had to be postponed due to her illness and hospitalization.

The second part of their celebration was the half marathon at the KL Standard Chartered Marathon, a story that has now captured the hearts of netizens.

Wira’s TikTok video has touched the hearts of many, garnering over 781 thousand views and more than 70 thousand likes, as netizens were deeply moved by their inspiring journey.