Yotsuya School Visit

20 October 2008

Standard Chartered Bank recently arranged its fourth visit to the Yotsuya Elementary School in Japan to coincide with World Sight Day.

The Bank’s visit was partnered by thirteen members of the blind runner’s Achilles Track Club and Paralympics Marathon Gold Medallist Yuichi Takahashi. Patrick Gillot, CEO Japan, and the SiB country coordinator Hideya Komori were also on hand to talk to the children and help with the visit. The students participated in guide-running activities and lessons with seeing-eye dogs to help them try and gain an authentic experience of what it’s like to run whilst partially sighted.

Mr.Takahashi, who is also a member of this year’s Greatest Race on Earth All-Star Team, gave an inspiring speech to the children about how compassion and caring for others is much more important than winning races. The runner told a story from the recent Paralympics, where he kept encouraging fellow athlete Henry Wanyoike to keep going through the heat even though it was proving difficult. The students were also understandably excited to see Mr. Takahashi’s Gold medal that he had brought in to show them.

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