(CNA Reporter Hung Su-chin, Taipei, 16th) The Public Television Service's program for people with disabilities, "Elysium: Going Out Properly," recently held a special screening in Changhua. The protagonist of the episode, Lin Jia-xing, is a visually impaired person who challenged SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding). Besides emphasizing that he wasn't afraid, he excitedly exclaimed that this trip fulfilled one of his dreams.
In the program footage, when the protagonist Lin Jia-xing challenged SUP for the first time and accidentally stepped off the floating platform into the water, the audience at the screening couldn't help but gasp repeatedly. When asked after the screening if he was afraid, Lin Jia-xing said through a press release, "I don't need to be afraid, because the people next to me are more afraid than I am. The poor one is the coach; it was harder for him because I grabbed his shoulders, making him uncomfortable."
Lin Jia-xing went blind overnight due to retinal detachment at the age of 18, and his life instantly plunged into darkness. With the companionship of his family and training from the Institute for the Blind, he relearned living skills and became a masseur.
The program documented Lin Jia-xing mustering the courage to go to Sun Moon Lake alone at the age of 50 to challenge SUP. Under the careful guidance of coach Chen Hung-yen, he started by touching the equipment and feeling the buoyancy of the paddleboard, learning step by step how to find his balance on the water. He happily shared that this experience fulfilled one of his dreams.
Coach Chen Hung-yen observed that the key to Lin Jia-xing's good learning performance was that he didn't pre-condition himself with fear. "He doesn't think too much, which actually helps him get the hang of it faster." (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150416
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- Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
- Category: Event