ONE of the Hastings' favourite sons has been struck down by a debilitating illness, and the Port Macquarie Surf Life Saving Club (PMSLSC) is getting behind him.
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Steven Pullen is well-known on the Mid-North Coast after he claimed victory in the Open Ironman at the Australian Championships in 1999 at Kurrawa Beach.
But just over six months ago Steven Pullen started losing feeling in his feet. Within weeks he was diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
The debilitating condition can lead to permanent neurological damage and, while the chances of remission are reasonable, there is a chance the condition will be fatal.
Steven started out as a nipper in Port Macquarie in 1986, and later moved to the Sunshine Coast to further his surf life saving aspirations.
He became a prominent team leader at Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach and Peregian beach clubs and continued to compete at a higher level. He established a business as a builder in Queensland, and always maintained his fitness. Last year he had been preparing to compete at Masters level again in 2013.
"He was all ready to go when this hit when this hit him out of nowhere," Steven's father Jim said.
Jim and Steven's mother Bev are currently on the Sunshine Coast helping their son recover, and are hoping to bring him back to Port Macquarie in coming months
Funds to modify Steven's car so he can still do his job were raised at a special dinner in Noosa last Sunday night.
Jim said the night was well attended, with many of the raffle tickets purchased by Steve's Port Macquarie clubbies.
Unfortunately no-one from the Hastings was successful with a win on the night, he said.
"But Bev and I and Steven would like to thank everyone from Port Macquarie for helping Steven."
The older Mr Pullen said his son's friends from PMSLSC have been brain-storming other ideas to raise money.
"They've been talking about doing their own raffle, and selling T-shirts," Jim said.
"A few of them are talking about shaving their heads, which is great, but Bev and I are so grateful for everything people in town are doing at the moment."
