Just over a year later, he remembers the day clearly.

"It was like hitting a brick wall," he said. "I was this young man with my life ahead of me, career set out. I lost my mental stability, I lost a lot, and I had to build myself up again. But I persevered - thats what got me through."

Riding from Goulburn's Big Merino to the steps of Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday also required perseverance.

Webb, who has starred in a number of films including Inferno, Circle of Lies and Start Button and had a small role in The Wolverine, rode his pushbike 108 kilometres to Canberra to deliver an 11,000-strong petition demanding more action on stroke.

He presented the document to Labor MP Jason Clare as part of the National Stroke Foundation's Fight Stroke campaign and has raised $1500 for the foundation.

Clearly fatigued but in good spirits after more than six hours on the road, Webb said the ride posed its own challenges.

But it was overwhelming support from family, friends and the public that got him over the line.

"I've got windburn all over my ankles. The carcasses just made me sick.

"I was petrified I was going to run into a snake. [I said] 'If I see a snake I'll be in Canberra before you can say stroke'," he laughed.

"I wasn't sure if I could make it - there were times this [Tuesday] morning when I didn't think I would.

"I've had so much support from friends, family, members of public. I thought, 'I have to do it, I have to do it for them, and I've got to do it for my 20-year-old self and every other stroke victim out there.' Thats what kept me going."

Webb quashed his initial concerns that the ride might be seen as more about fame than stroke awareness.

In the end he decided that supporting fellow sufferers through the long recovery process was more important than what others might think.

He hoped the government would pledge more money to stroke awareness and education, as well as rehabilitation and care, to help reduce the number of people affected by stroke.

"A lot of stroke victims don't get the care and support and the stroke rehabilitation they need, so when they leave hospital their outlook and their recovery isn't very good," he said.

"I was one of the lucky ones. There's so many people out there who aren't - that's what we need to change."