Stories And Inspiration

“I had my right leg amputated in February, but in April I will be fitted for a prosthetic leg and I plan to participate in the GO FAR One-Mile Fun Run in May.” These are the words from one determined fifth-grader at Johnson Street Global Studies in High Point. I recently had the privilege of meeting 11-year-old Arrien and was blown away by her determined attitude.

A tenacious group of teachers at the school provide this opportunity for the Life Skill Class. Every Friday afternoon, kids who use wheelchairs or require assistance are pushed or helped up a steep hill to a large paved area to train for the GO FAR Fun Run, which will take place on May 3 in High Point.

Nineteen children with a variety of challenges, including autism, visual impairment, and cerebral palsy, participate in the GO FAR program at Johnson Global.

Kelli Staples, Arrien’s coach and teacher, encouraged and walked beside Arrien as she placed her walker out in front of her body and hopped to it and then repeated this over and over until she complete her third lap.

These students may never be the first to cross the finish line and may not go on to run competitively, but as one of the teachers stated to me, “They have grit, they have passion, and they have the desire to never give up.” I think we can all learn a lesson from these children. “Never give up. I can do this!”

By Robin Lindsay