Live extraordinarily, not just survive: M'sian man, 50, completes S'pore half marathon with daughter, 17, with cerebral palsy

At the Standard Chartered Singapore half marathon on Dec. 6, one pair of competitors stood out from the rest.

While athletes chased personal best timings, Wira Rabu (Wira), 50, aimed simply for completion with his daughter, Wadihan Sudepja (Dihan).

But unlike others, he did so while pushing her in a wheelchair for the full 21.1km, before literally carrying her across the finish line.

A unique race

Born with cerebral palsy, 17-year-old Dihan is quadriplegic.

She is unable to eat and drink on her own and is non-verbal, according to Wira.

But this has not prevented the father-daughter pair from signing up for the 21.1km race, the longest distance they have competed in in Singapore after participating in the 10km category in 2023 and 2024.

With Dihan in a custom-made recliner wheelchair designed for her comfort and safety, Wira endured the gruelling task of running the long stretch with the additional load that added up to 55kg.

There was also the extra step of stopping to feed Dihan via a syringe on multiple occasions.

Yet he said that aside from the physical demands, the emotional challenge "is always the same", which was making sure Dihan was comfortable, safe and happy.

In his tiredness, it was her smiles that gave him the strength "no energy drink can match".

"Some people say she's like my Infinity Stones," he tells Mothership, referencing the artifacts from the Marvel universe.

Not their first rodeo

This year alone, the pair have participated in three half marathons.

They previously competed in the event at the Hatyai Marathon in Thailand on May. 25, and the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) on Oct. 5.

The race in Singapore was the final stage of their mission to complete three half marathons in three different countries this year, Wira said.

Speaking to Mothership days after the run, he said that he started cycling and running with his daughter 11 years ago, when Dihan was six.

They had travelled to Singapore specifically for the race, accompanied by his wife, elder daughter and Singapore-based brother and sister-in-law.

In their training regime, they focused on endurance and strength instead of speed, noting that long distance running with heavy equipment would require these elements.

The finish line

The support the pair faced through the race was incredible, Wira said.

Runners clapped for them, offered encouragements and even slowed down to cheer them on.

Some who knew the pair also called out Dihan's name.

A few told them that their journey had motivated them to keep pushing on.

But the best part of the race appeared to be at the finish line for Wira, who called it "one of the most emotional moments of [their] journey".

Wanting Dihan to experience the energy of the crowds and "run" across the finish line, he lifted her into a sling carrier as he approached the final stretch.

What made the moment even more memorable for Wira was the shoutout by the race's emcee Arabelle Chia, which ignited thunderous cheers from spectators at the stands.

"The cheers, the claps, the words of encouragement, it felt like Singapore was lifting us together," Wira recalled.

Dihan's smile, meanwhile, was something he said he would carry for the rest of his life.

"Every soul deserves the wind on their face"

Asked why he had chosen to partake in the race with his daughter, Wira said that they wanted to send a message that "every soul deserves the wind on their face, no matter their ability."

Running is their way of showing inclusion and hope, and they hope to inspire others to see possibility beyond limitation.

"We don't want to just survive, we want to truly live extraordinarily."

Top images via Wira Rabu