Anyone who has stepped foot on the MacLehose Trail knows it presents a daunting challenge to the most able-bodied of athletes. Now imagine walking its 100km blindfolded - with one hand on the shoulder of the person in front of you, and the other on a walking stick. Blind walker Curtiss Chung Chi-shing's accomplishment in completing last year's Trailwalker in 43 hours and 27 minutes earned him an award that will be presented today. The new State Street Overcoming the Odds Award rewards Mr Chung with $3,900, and a $39,000 donation in his name to Oxfam. 'I am happy about getting the award . . . but the happiness I feel now is incomparable to the way I felt on the trail,' he said. 'In the beginning people from other teams thought that there was no way that I could finish, but as I pushed on, people realised that I was for real. The happiness you get from that cannot be described in words.' Mr Chung, 28 - who can only see shadows in his peripheral vision - joined the annual event in November with another blind teammate and two volunteers from Retina Hong Kong. 'I did not have time to be scared. All I could do was think that I must try to finish,' he said. Taking one cautious step at a time, Mr Chung said his team often held up the progress of teams behind them. But his determination to finish - even after his fellow blind teammate dropped out - prevented him feeling guilty. 'As I went on people eventually started cheering me on. People told me that they would see me at the finish line. Other teams whispered among themselves saying: 'Look at him. He may be slow but he is pushing on with determination',' Mr Chung said. 'In the end I was so happy and moved that I didn't want it to end. I purposely walked really slowly during the last two stages so I could savour the experience.' For Mr Chung, who began losing his vision in kindergarten, the experience was a distraction from the harsh realities of his life. Unemployed for eight years and living on $1,260 a month, Mr Chung hopes he will find a job after completing a marketing degree at night school. He plans to enter Trailwalker this year after Oxfam waived entry fees and granted his team automatic admission. This time they hope to cross the line together. Graphic: AWAR21GET
