There is nothing that can match a father’s love. Great dads have a unique way of knowing when to have fun and shower their children with love and when to be the disciplinarian and lay down the law. In honour of Father’s Day, The Royal Gazette spoke to two fathers who were honoured for taking an active role in their children’s lives. Their children wrote in to a competition, held by The Chewstick Foundation and fatherhood blog Razors and Diapers, to boast about how their presence made a dramatic difference in their lives. Read on to find out why.By Nadia ArandjelovicWhen it comes to being a great father, Paul Wellman has never let his health challenges slow him down.Mr Wellman not only suffers from the autoimmune disease lupus, he also battled through two strokes — one in 2000 and another in 2005.He still makes time to go to dinner, movies and powerboat races with his 14-year-old son Pjon — in fact the two are at times considered inseparable.Pjon was recently chosen as the winner of a special competition organised by The Chewstick Foundation and fatherhood blog Razor and Diapers.In his essay he called his dad “a leader, a guide, and a source of strength and support”.Mr Wellman said he had no idea his son had entered the competition or even thought of him that way.“When I finally read the letter it brought tears to my eyes, honestly it was very interesting,” Mr Wellman said. “The words that were in there, they were inspiring, to know how he feels about me.“He said I taught him things that I didn’t know I taught him.”Mr Wellman was diagnosed with lupus back in the mid-1990s.His case was considered rare because the illness is predominantly found in women of Caribbean or African descent.He said lupus hadn’t really held him back from doing things with his son, however a devastating stroke back in 2005 has made taking part in sporting activities difficult.Mr Wellman said all the organs in his body collapsed one by one, with the exception of his heart. He had to be airlifted off the Island to get proper medical attention.“I was in a coma for four months and Pjon was lucky to see me come out of it alive,” he explained.Pjon was only seven years old when his father was in hospital, but said he is grateful he didn’t lose his dad.“I was small but I remember going to the hospital and visiting him sometimes. I always think about it if weren’t for my grandparents saying not to pull the plug [to the life support machine] I wouldn’t have a father right now.”The two have always spent quality time together, but Mr Wellman said it was challenging doing some activities like fishing.“We still do some things, but my left hand is not operational and it’s a good thing I am right-handed.“When it comes to working with things that need two hands I invite him to be my helper,” he said.But when his son was young, Mr Wellman said Pjon was like “a magnet” to him.“He would want to go with me every day even when I was driving the ferry [with The Department of Marine and Ports].“I remember his mother was home with him one day and had a problem where he wouldn’t stop crying and I told her to bring him to me [at work] and he was happy the whole day.”Pjon used to ask to go out with Mr Wellman on jobs during his time as a taxi driver.“So I would call my clients and ask if he could come along for the drive.“He would sit in the back [of the taxi] with the clients and strike a conversation up from the airport. And they loved him. He was my little tour guide while I was driving.”Mr Wellman said he made a conscious decision to be actively involved in his child’s life from the day Pjon was brought into the world.He said he was inspired by his own dad, Ralph Wellman, who he credits for sticking by his side throughout life’s challenges.Mr Wellman is part of a father’s group that raises money to help his son’s trade school, Impact Mentoring Academy.He says making an effort to be in Pjon’s life is very important.“I don’t want him to be lead astray and it’s my responsibility to teach him the values of life and keep him on the straight and narrow, not to get caught up.”The loving dad continued: “I want to teach him the things I have been taught from my father. I am a pilot, a professional diver, ex power boat racer and I would love for him to get involved in it.“But overall I want him to be a strong, motivated, person, a go-getter, someone who is outgoing. Someone who understands that winners never quit and quitters never win, basically a leader and not a follower.”He said he was most proud to see the young man his son was growing in to.“The most rewarding part is that Pjon has grown to become a nice, fine young man with some good values.”