In 1993, while playing near his home in Thanh Tri commune (former Kien Giang province), young Huynh Huu Canh and his cousin found an old bomb. The two boys tried to break off the outer layer of dirt to sell the scrap metal for ice cream. The bomb suddenly exploded, taking his cousin's life and leaving Canh with a severed left hand tendon and shrapnel in his stomach. From that day forward, he lost his sight permanently.

Huynh Huu Canh holds the guide rope commonly used by visually impaired runners. Photo: Provided by the subject

"At the time, I couldn't believe I had lost my eyes forever. I could only perceive the world through sound. Hearing the school drum and the laughter of my friends, I just sat silently in a corner of my house. I felt like the world was divided in two: one side was light, and the other side was me," he recalled.

Canh stopped going to school. He adapted to his new life, learning to make his bed, pour water, take care of his personal hygiene, and do laundry. He understood that he couldn't change the reality of being blind, so he had to learn to be stronger, training every day, every minute. This also made him feel more valuable.

Four years later, Canh enrolled in a school for blind children in An Giang. After graduating from high school, he studied Special Education at Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy, hoping to help those with similar fates. At that time, education for the blind was a challenge due to the lack of braille books and limited access to digital resources. He learned by listening to cassette tapes or copying by hand in braille, which took much more effort and time than conventional methods.

"I used to think the future of a blind person like me was only selling lottery tickets or begging. But studying opened up a new world for me. Therefore, while others studied for one hour, I accepted studying for five," he said.

After graduating and working for a while, Canh learned about an Australian government scholarship. Despite having no English proficiency, his eagerness to learn drove him to research and apply. "While others could complete an application in one or two evenings, it took me two months. I used Google Translate and asked friends for help," he recounted.

Huu Canh at his Master's graduation ceremony in 2019. Photo: Provided by the subject

His efforts paid off. He became a student at Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia), pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work. In 2022, Canh returned to Vietnam and worked at the Kien Giang Social Protection Center.

Huynh Huu Canh's determination wasn't limited to academics. In 2022, at a friend's suggestion, he began running. "Initially, I thought, 'How can I run if I can't see?' But my friends convinced me, saying someone would guide me," he explained.

Canh signed up for a 21km race on his first try and finished in 3 hours and 9 minutes. The most memorable moment was when he was exhausted at the 15km mark. Feeling his legs giving way, Canh stopped to pray at a temple, asking for strength to reach the finish line.

Since then, Canh started seriously learning about heart rate, running techniques, and supplementary exercises, adopting a structured training regime. Due to the distance, whenever he trained with his team, he had to ask his wife, Huynh To Nga, to drive him more than 30 km, consistently 2-3 times a week. He is deeply grateful for her sacrifices.

"Every time I'm on the track, I always remind myself that I'm not just running for myself, but I'm representing the image of visually impaired people affirming their place in the community. Each step is a step towards redefining the image of people with disabilities," he emphasized.

Huu Canh and his wife together on a run. Photo: Provided by the subject

Besides running, Canh also connects with other disabled athletes to form a triathlon team. In the team, two members with leg disabilities participate in the 1.9 km swim and 90 km cycling, while he takes on the 21 km run. They have participated in Ironman competitions.

Canh is the first and only disabled runner to date to be awarded the "Vietnamese Record of Willpower" certificate by the National Record Association. He has completed three full marathons, over ten half marathons, and four triathlons.

In every race, Huynh Huu Canh doesn't run alone. He needs someone to hold a tether, guiding him and describing obstacles ahead. To Canh, they are his "eyes" on the track.

"Once, my running partner broke his leg at the 18km mark but still helped me to the finish line. Some have cried when they couldn't finish with me. Marathons have shown me the power of sharing," he said.

In 2023, Canh founded the Hoa Khuyet Club, which brings together nearly 30 people with disabilities who love running. Many members have conquered the 42 km marathon distance. He hopes that each member will be a flame, so when one stops running, another will take their place.

On 14/9, Huynh Huu Canh will participate in the 21km race at the VnExpress Marathon Can Tho. He expressed his excitement to run alongside thousands of amateur runners. "I want to turn each step into a message: even in darkness, people can still shine and affirm their value," he shared.

Hai Long