🕶 Go Gary, go

Twenty-five years ago, Gary Leung began to lose his vision. 

Last month, he finished running 1,400 miles across Japan.

"But HOWWW," you ask? 

Let's rewind... His amazing journey started when Gary first began losing his sight in his mid-20s, and it didn't happen overnight. In fact, his diagnosis initially sent him into a dark and seemingly inescapable depression. 

According to CNN, he thought facing “rock bottom” would be a daily battle, and he saw no purpose in continuing living. 

That is, until he found long distance running. 

From hopeless to hooked... Gary fell in love with running and began competing as he grew more and more comfortable doing so, even with the loss of his vision. 

• Now in his 50's, Gary has completed the 62-mile Antarctic Ice Marathon (becoming the first blind person to do so), the 250 mile "Ultra Gobi" (considered among the toughest foot-races in the world), and, most recently, a 1,400 mile charity run from Southern to Northern Japan. 
• He's also the first runner with visual impairment in Hong Kong to hold a long-distance coaching license.

Gary's most recent feat spanned 40 days and included a group of interchanging guide runners. Gary and his guides averaged around 30 miles daily (more than a marathon per day).

• The passionate runner completed the cross-Japan trek to raise money for young people with critical illnesses via the Roly Poly Inclusion Movement Association – whose funds were going to Make-A-Wish Hong Kong.

🗯 What he's saying: “Although a lot of people may say, ‘Wow you ran the span of Japan, you’re so impressive,’ I’m actually not,” shared Gary. “The most impressive are these children. I wanted to show them that we all have our obstacles, but we must face them head-on and with bravery. When they’re faced with theirs – many of them suffer from worse difficulties – they can see it’s possible to overcome.” 

👀 Looking ahead... Gary plans on mapping out and running circumference of South Korea next.