STORY: Running towards the spring of life
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: May 10, 2024
LENGTH: 00:04:23
LOCATION: JINHUA, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Luo Shujian

STORYLINE:

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"Marathon running has opened a skylight for me amidst despair, allowing me to see the dawn of destiny."

This is the tenth year that Luo Shujian has been running with his son, Xiaobai. They are about to participate in their 70th marathon together.

Xiaobai is 15 years old. He suffered serious brain damage due to severe asphyxia at birth, leading to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"Many people say that it cannot be cured with money. They all suggested that I give up on him, but if I really were to do it, I feel it would be just impossible."

Against all odds, Luo never gave up. For Luo, who has worked as a deliveryman for 17 years, every day is a race against time. In this marathon of life, he not only runs for his livelihood but also races against the dictates of fate.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"Since May 2015, I have been waking up to my alarm at 4:30 a.m. and heading out for a run at 5 o'clock. Running is like a spiritual sustenance for me, making me feel as if a new hope is rising from the depths of my heart."

Xiaobai learned to walk after undergoing habilitation training for 818 days following his birth.

However, just as hope appeared to be rising, tragedy struck once again. At the age of two-and-a-half, Xiaobai was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, which is one of the most difficult-to-control forms of childhood epilepsy.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"Every day, he would fall 20 to 30 times. Very frequently. His head would get bloody cuts and need stitches. Sometimes, I could only come to a place where no one was around and silently shed tears."

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"Wear this helmet. Good. I've provided a helmet to protect him, to lessen his pain a bit. Five helmets have been broken before this one. This is the sixth."

Behind the helmet is Luo's careful protection for his child.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"Running a full marathon can indeed be very challenging. After completing 30 km, I really don't feel like running any more. My legs feel as heavy as lead, barely able to move. I'd feel an urge to stop and give up. But I would grit my teeth and persist. It's just for the sake of that dream in my heart to run alongside Xiaobai."

After completing each marathon, Luo would stick the race bib on the wall. It's a special way for him to motivate himself.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"The most memorable one was the Xin'anjiang marathon. Our race number was B0017, which sounds like "together" in Chinese. It symbolizes that we are running together, towards the spring of life, and towards the future."

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"The marathon course is long, but Xiaobai's life is filled with uncertainty and could be short. In the limited time we have together, I want to take him to see a wider and more splendid world."

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"Xiaobai, hang in there. Only 500 meters left to the finish line, 300 meters, 200 meters, 100 meters. Let's push through!"

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"We've finally completed the 70th marathon in our lives."

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LUO SHUJIAN, Deliveryman
"In life, the most important thing is love, not winning. I've offered my legs to Xiaobai, and Xiaobai has instilled unwavering faith in me. I'll always run future marathons together with him."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jinhua, China.
(XHTV)