FOR every NRL star there’s a junior coach that helped shape their careers and mentor their personalities in those unpredictable early years.

Shane Millard was that man for Anthony Mundine, Ben Ross, sons Daryl and Ryan and countless other young players to come through the lower grades at the St George Dragons and more recently the North Sydney Bears.

This Sunday at Maroubra Beach, members of the rugby league community, including The Men of League, will gather for a Walkathon to help raise money for one of the game’s unsung heroes as he fights against cancer that doctors say they can no longer treat.

Experienced NRL centre Daryl Millard and Queensland Cup utility Ryan, both Fiji World Cup internationals, were coached by their father as kids but now the brothers are mentors to him as he battles to overcome cancer in his liver, lungs and near his gallbladder.

“On January 25 this year I got told by my oncologist that he could do no more for me,” said Shane Millard, who also coached the USA Tomahawks and assisted for Fiji.

“After three years of doing chemotherapy and a couple of surgeries (including one to remove cancer in the colon) there was no option for me so I had to go down a different route so I’ve gone to the holistic lifestyle that’s a combination of diet, exercise and treatments aimed at getting rid of all the stress in my life.”

The 58-year-old retired as a schoolteacher from Kingsgrove High and stopped coaching the Bears’ SG Ball Cup team.

As a result, Millard’s cancer has stabilised but now out of work he needs support in order to afford to maintain his treatments.

“The quality of his life now is totally different,” said Daryl Millard, 30.

“Ten months ago he was really exhausted and he wasn’t the person he used to be. Now he’s walking seven days a week. He’s really fit but living with cancer. He’s stopped it growing but he needs to take it to the next level.”

media_camera Former Rabbitohs player Daryl Millard with his father Shane, who is suffering from cancer.

The Shane Millard Walkathon page has been set up on Facebook with details about Sunday’s event, with the walk to begin out the front of South Maroubra Surf Club at midday — where participants can register and donate on the spot — and finish back at the same spot after the walk up to Malabar.

A late lunch and silent auction will follow with a range of signed jerseys and Sam Burgess’ first ever boots worn in Australia among the items up for grabs.