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Blind teacher breaks barriers, running her first 5K at 2025 Wuxi Marathon

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Blind teacher breaks barriers, running her first 5K at 2025 Wuxi Marathon

2025-03-25 10:15 Last Updated At:11:37

Among the 35,000 marathon runners in East China's Wuxi Marathon 2025 on Sunday, there was a blind teacher, Zhu Lingjun, who finished five kilometers for the first time with a guide runner and sent an inspiring spirit to the city.

Born blind, Zhu gained limited light perception after surgery at four months old. She achieved her complete education relentlessly up to a master's degree, and last year, she became the city's first visually impaired teacher at Wuxi Special Education School.

At the same time, Zhu loves sports and pursues them bravely. After hearing of the Wuxi Marathon, she had long dreamed of joining. She said it is more than a personal goal; she believes in raising awareness of equal opportunities in sports and encouraging people with disabilities to embrace social life.

This year's Wuxi Marathon supported disabled runners and introduced a dedicated registration channel for the visually impaired, fostering inclusivity in sports.

Zhu jumped at the chance and prepared herself for the race. She underwent rigorous winter training, including jump rope, hula hooping, swimming, and synchronized pacing with her running guide.

"Due to the visual impairment, it is not very convenient for me to move around, so I often skip rope and play with hula hoop indoors. I also like swimming because I learned to swim when I was young. I can do breaststroke and backstroke," she said.

"When registering, I read that eligible disabled people are allowed to participate and will be well protected. I think this reflects the spirit of equal competition and a respect for diverse participation," she said.

"This is the biggest event I've ever participated in. I'm truly grateful to my guide runner. She has a long stride but adjusted her pace to match mine. I also want to thank the organizers for allowing people like me to compete. This experience has made me realize that I can improve, run farther, faster, and more steadily," she said after the race.

Zhu pursued a resilient life long before the marathon.

She moved away from home to Shanghai to pursue early education when there were no local schools for blind children. Her determination led her to excel academically - earning a degree from East China Normal University and a master's from the prestigious Fudan University.

She was even selected for an exchange program at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where she completed five English-taught courses.

Beyond academics, Zhu has dedicated herself to social work, tutoring children with intellectual disabilities, and volunteering for a United Nations project. Inspired by the teachers who mentored her, she pursued her dream of becoming an educator, joining Wuxi Special Education School in August 2024.

"I hope to grow in this job, keep improving, and become a teacher who is loved by students, trusted by parents, and recognized by society," she said.

Blind teacher breaks barriers, running her first 5K at 2025 Wuxi Marathon

Blind teacher breaks barriers, running her first 5K at 2025 Wuxi Marathon

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China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

2025-05-17 22:01 Last Updated At:22:37

A Chinese medical team left China on Saturday heading for Ethiopia, where they will offer technological assistance and support to talent development in the country's healthcare sector over the next 12 months.

The 14-member team includes experts in clinical medicine, medical technology, hospital administration, and logistical support.

Mainly selected from the First Hospital Affiliated to the Army Medical University (AMU) in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the team members possess extensive experience in medical practice and management.

During the mission, the experts will help the country's military hospitals to enhance medical service capacity, promote the application of new technologies, strengthen hospital operations, train professional personnel, and support the establishment of healthcare management systems, thereby contributing to the improvement of local medical services.

"I feel deeply honored by this mission, and I'm fully aware of the responsibility it carries. We are committed to carrying forward the spirit of China's overseas medical teams, which features tenacity, dedication, commitment to saving lives, and love that knows no borders, and will apply our skills for the benefit of the Ethiopian military and civilians," said team member Guo Hao from the AMU.

Since 2015, the AMU hospital has dispatched 11 batches totaling more than 100 medical experts to Ethiopia.

Their efforts gave strong support to achieving notable progress in medical facility construction, and technological and talent development in the country's healthcare sector.

China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

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