Emilie Miller faced a life-altering swimming training accident that left her with a broken neck in January 2008. While this would have been a devastating setback for many, Emilie's unwavering determination to pursue her passion for competitive swimming remained unshaken.

John Maclean, a source of inspiration himself, had the pleasure of meeting Emilie and presenting her with a $10,000 check to support her dream of becoming a Paralympian. Emilie, at the age of 15, found the experience of spending time with John truly amazing and expressed her gratitude for the support she received.

The funds for Emilie were raised through the efforts of Terry Roberts and Brian Wood, members of the Bathurst Wallabies Triathlon Club, who teamed up to represent the John Maclean Foundation in grueling endurance events like the Ironman Western Australia and the World Ironman Triathlon Championship in Hawaii in 2009. John Maclean highlighted that Emilie's story perfectly aligns with the foundation's mission to inspire and enable young Australians who use wheelchairs to pursue their dreams. Terry and Brian were inspired by Emilie's story and dedicated their fundraising efforts to her cause, proudly racing as part of the JMF family.