Sixteen visually impaired runners completed six consecutive half-marathons over six days in Beijing's Olympic Forest Park, finishing the challenge on May 24. Assisted by sighted volunteers, each participant covered a total of 126.585 kilometers as part of a charity initiative promoting inclusive sports.

Visually impaired runners cross the finish line with help from volunteer sighted guides. (Photo by Tian Kaihao/ People's Daily online)

The event, titled "Chasing the Light 666," with "666" having the meaning of  "excellent" in Chinese, was launched to encourage more visually impaired people to participate in sports and to promote greater public understanding of inclusivity in athletics.

Among the participants was He Yajun, who lost his eyesight completely as a teenager. Since taking up running in 2014, he has logged more than 20,000 kilometers and completed over 70 marathons.

"Running transformed my life," He said. "It helped me regain confidence and encouraged me to engage more actively with society. I realized I couldn't spend my entire life working in a massage shop."

Visually impaired runner He Yajun (right) competes with the assistance of a sighted volunteer guide. (Photo by Tian Kaihao/ People's Daily online)

In 2015, He founded a volunteer-assisted running group for blind and partially blind athletes. What began with only a handful of members has grown into a community of more than 600 runners and 2,300 volunteers.

"In terms of vision, sighted people may be the stronger ones, but mentally and physically, these visually impaired runners are incredibly strong," said Tang Min, organizer of the event and director of public welfare affairs for the Executive Committee of the 21st Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) Gaoyuan Outdoor Gobi Challenge.

Despite the demanding nature of the challenge, many visually impaired runners outperformed their sighted guides. Volunteers often rotated throughout the races to keep pace with participants.

For runners like Feng Penghan, who recorded an impressive time of 1:31:38 on the second day of the event, trust was the key to success. Linked by a short tether, guide runners communicated changes in direction, pace and potential obstacles through subtle movements and verbal cues.

"To run well, I have to trust the volunteer completely," Feng said. "They are my eyes and my greatest support."

Feng began running after losing much of his vision in 2022. "The sport has not only improved my physical health but also expanded my social circle and exposed me to new experiences through interactions with volunteers from different professions," he said.

The event's impact extended far beyond the racecourse, leaving a lasting impression on volunteers and public figures who took part. Many volunteers found themselves inspired by the runners' determination, optimism and resilience.

Miao Jie, a member of the band Shuimu Nianhua, participated in a guide-running session for the first time during the event. He said the trust visually impaired runners placed in their guides was deeply moving.

"What appears to be assistance is actually mutual inspiration," he said.

"I have learned so much from visually impaired runners. Things I once thought were impossible now seem much more achievable," said Wang Liping, Olympic champion in the women's 20-kilometer race walk at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and an ambassador for the event. "They have changed my perception of what people can achieve."

All 16 runners successfully completed the challenge, with several setting personal bests.

Visually impaired runner Chen Yanbo (center) poses for a photo with volunteer sighted guides. (Photo by Tian Kaihao/ People's Daily online)

Organizers hope the event will inspire more visually impaired people to embrace sports while encouraging more members of the public to volunteer as guide runners.

"I don't see myself as a blind person anymore, just a sighted person walking in the dark," He said. "As long as there is light in your heart, there will be a path beneath your feet. I will keep running."

(Meng Biying also contributed to this article. Compiled by Song Wanlin. Edited by Yang Yang.)