A heart-warming video of a teacher running alongside her disabled student during a school sports event has gone viral on social media, leaving viewers emotional. The 48-second video, shared on TikTok by user @faridkamaruddin18, shows five schoolchildren participating in a race, including a one-legged boy on crutches. The event was identified as the Jerantut District School Sports Council (MSSD) 2023 special education athletics tournament, based on a banner seen in the background of the stadium.
Despite starting behind the other participants, the boy with crutches displayed great determination and tried his best to race towards the finish line. Social media users were touched not only by his perseverance but also by the kind act of his teacher, who ran alongside him to motivate him. The video has garnered over 633,000 views and has moved many to tears.
TikTok user @Teacher Mun’s Life shared, “I was there on duty too. When I saw him running, I clapped my hands to show my support but my eyes were watery.” Others expressed their emotions through comments such as, “A mother’s tears have fallen. May all the affairs of this child and teacher be eased.” and “I’m teary-eyed watching this video.”
People were particularly moved by the dedication of the teacher. User @syakirfairus669 said, “the teacher is the one who moved me. In life, no matter how difficult it is, as long as there is someone to encourage, God willing, there is a way.” Some viewers even compared the boy to famous Paralympic champions and suggested he has the potential to become a para-athlete.
While many praised the teacher’s act, some also suggested that efforts should be made to provide a sports prosthetic leg for the boy. According to the Malay daily Harian Metro, the boy’s name is Muhammad Aqil Naufal Zahiran, an 11-year-old student at SK Felda Lepar Utara 1. This was his first time participating in a race, and he expressed his determination to finish despite feeling shy and being far behind.
Muhammad Aqil, who lost his left leg in 2015 due to a bacterial infection and lost his father two years ago, was happy when his teacher congratulated him for completing the race. He expressed his love for football and stated that he is ready to participate in running again if given the opportunity.
The teacher, Intan Zulaikha Jusoh, 35, explained that her intention of running with Muhammad Aqil was to encourage him and make him feel supported. She didn’t want him to feel alone while his friends were far ahead. She felt touched and proud of her student’s enthusiasm during the race.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
