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Article from ST Recruit, 10 July 2005
Run the good race
Paul Heng shares some lessons he learnt from the inspiring life of paraplegic marathoner Dr William Tan
On February 26 this year, Dr William Tan became the first person in the world to undertake a wheelchair push in Antarctica. The 48-year-old paraplegic from Singapore is also the first wheelchair-bound individual to complete 10 marathons in seven continents in 70 days.
Over the years, Dr Tan has completed numerous marathons and raised a phenomenal sum of money for charities around the world.
From an hour-long talk he gave at a Rotary Club meeting last month, and from a one-to-one lunch conversation with him, I have learnt much from this inspiring man.
Overcoming adversities
At the tender age of two, Dr Tan was diagnosed with polio and eventually lost the use of his legs. His parents did not want him to be accorded special treatment, so he went to a normal kindergarten.
When classmates teased him by hitting him on the head and running away, he retaliated by catching their hands and biting them. Parents complained, so the poor boy had to stop going to that particular kindergarten. In fact, he was one of few children ever to be expelled from a kindergarten. However, he did not give up and went on to win numerous school awards. Dr Tan learnt to be a fighter, not a quitter.
There will be many ups and downs in your life. How you react when you are down is very important. Do not wallow in self-pity and blame others for your misfortunes. Instead, take stock of what has happened, what lessons you can learn from this, and how you can best use those lessons to continue life's journey.
Dream big
Dreaming is good. Dreaming is necessary. If not for dreams, many successful people in this world would not have been successful.
Dr Tan dared to dream big. He had two big dreams — to get into Raffles Institution, and to study medicine. Both became a reality for him.
He also had a vision of participating in marathons and breaking world records in sports. Having now broken a world record by completing 10 marathons in seven continents in 70 days, he is aiming to topple a couple of Guinness World Records this year!
Everyone passes this world but once. You must make the best of your time here. If you already have a vision of what you want to do with your life, well done. If not, let today be the day when you put pen to paper to map out your vision. Think big, and then start out by making small incremental steps towards your goal.
Along the way, you are bound to face challenges. Do not give up easily. Persevere, be confident of your own capabilities and always focus on the road ahead of you. If you have to look back, do so just for the sake of learning what you can from the past, then forge ahead.
No man is an island
During his talk, Dr Tan shared some pictures. One showed him wheeling himself up a steep slope, helped by a group of five to six people. It would have been impossible for him to achieve this single-handedly.
In your work life as well as in other things you do, such as helping out in a voluntary organisation, it is important that you work as a team. The challenge is to learn to accept your colleagues, bosses and fellow team-mates for what they are, warts and all. Each person is unique, and collectively, you can achieve so much more.
I have absolutely no doubt that Dr Tan's quest — to challenge himself and to help others — will continue for the rest of his life.
One man, one wheelchair. And what a difference he has made.
Article by Paul Heng, former president of the Rotary Club of Bugis Junction. Websites: www.rotary.org, www.rotaryfoundationsing.org
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