CHENGDU－For 21-year-old Wang Xueting and her visually impaired father, Wang Kequan, running is not just a workout but also a bonding experience.

Since 2020, Wang Xueting has accompanied her father on daily running sessions, serving as his eyes and using a tether to help him navigate the course.

"We rely on the tether to feel the turns and the distance between us," she said.

Wang's 51-year-old father, born with a congenital vision disorder, had suffered from depression for a long time due to his disability. He once locked himself in his home in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, refusing to see anyone.

An avid runner, Wang Xueting did not give up hope and suggested he take up running to relieve his anxiety.

But running wasn't easy for Wang Kequan in the beginning. Wang Xueting first bought a secondhand treadmill online for her father, but he gave up after a few attempts as he felt that he couldn't use it due to his lack of physical exercise and sight.

Wang Xueting came up with an idea and decided to run with her father, alerting him to the turns and obstacles on the road. After some time they developed seamless coordination and were able to keep pace with each other while attached by the tether.

They have run every day since then in their community, gradually increasing their training intensity and running longer distances.

Wang Kequan slowly developed a love for running. Thanks to the daily physical activity, his health improved and his blood pressure dropped.

"When I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped," he said.

Because of her father's visual impairment, Wang Xueting had to undertake a lot of housework from an early age. She often felt sorry for herself when she heard the neighbors gossip about her father's disability.

"Why is he different from other fathers? Why can't he see?" she wondered as a child.

Running has brought them closer, and Wang Xueting said they talk more about things besides running on their daily training routes, such as her education and favorite subjects.

She even led her father on runs at her university campus, where they have greeted her teachers and classmates. She will graduate from university this summer.

Wang Kequan does not have a job and lives on government aid. His wife, who works as a cleaner, is the family's breadwinner.

Wang Xueting said life is challenging, but full of hope.

The heartwarming story of Wang Xueting and her father has garnered widespread media attention and touched many netizens after photos of their runs were shared on the Sina Weibo microblogging site.

They have joined a club－Running in the Dark－for runners with visual impairment and are preparing to run a half marathon. Wang Kequan has also volunteered to help other disabled people.

"My dad is my hero," Wang Xueting said.

Xinhua