Wong Ho-fai ran around Hong Kong last week while pushing double amputee Chau Kin-ming in a wheelchair. For Wong, the adventure was a means of creating a sense of teamwork, to force himself to keep moving and to celebrate the joys of life. And it’s only the start. Wong is now preparing to run the whole way across America, starting in April or May, and wants people with disabilities to join him on his journey. He wants to accompany people who do not usually have the chance to see America from this unique angle. He plans push disabled people or be joined by hand cyclists – each staying for 10 days to two weeks – and is in talks with a number of charities. “For me, life is a celebration. I want to people come out and share their stories and tell me how they live,” said Wong. “I consider myself lucky, and they might consider themselves lucky too. I want to hear their stories about something I’ve never experienced. I want to hear more stories about how they celebrate their lives.” Wong has already run the length of Japan and around Taiwan , both solo. Last weekend’s experience with Chau was different because there was a team element to it. Others came along to run with them. “It’s very difficult. For my solo trip, I enjoy time by myself. I could listen to my inner voice. It was kind of meditative running for the whole journey,” Wong said. “But the run last weekend, chatting all the time, and we had almost 10 supporting runners. They all have different characters, with different aspects, different suggestions and comments. I had a lot of comments around me, so I needed selective hearing.” Wong said he was a bit annoyed for the first hour but eventually calmed down, choosing to treat it as a learning opportunity ahead of his America run. “I became a leader, so I could allocate different people to different spots, so we could keep moving forward instead of talking about when, how and where we’d go,” he said. “I always think about the bigger picture, and that is the run across America. I’ll face the same situation there because I’ll have support, I’ll have other runners. I have to wonder what I should do, how I should respond and think about how I can come back to myself and listen to the inner voice. This is a chance to practice.” Chau, who was a stage manager but lost his legs after a work-related accident, was able to spot potholes and obstacles to avoid. He would change the direction of his wheelchair. Wong, who is used to pushing a buggy on his long distance trips, would have to adjust and sometimes steer himself. “It was not easy for me to just push and tell him where to go, it was teamwork instead,” Wong said. “It was different but I have to be very sensible to maintain control otherwise, if we trip, Chau would have fallen.” Wong has been planning and dreaming of his run across America for years. When he closes his eyes he thinks of Forrest Gump running through the desert with a crowd of people following him. “In my mind, that scene plays in my head again and again and again. I think about running the long road through the mountains, then into the desert, the long road with the desert on either side. That is what I’m searching for. I have no idea why, I just love that scene,” Wong said. “I love to share the joy of running with others, and I think felt lonely for the last two trips. It felt like only I could see the beauty of the universe, but I want to share it with other people who treasure their lives.”