4th-Grader Steps Up To Help Blind Teen Compete In Cross Country Races.

Rebel Hays of Fayetteville, Arkansas, loves helping people as much as he loves running. That’s what made him the perfect partner for Paul Scott!

Having earned the title of “Fastest Kid in Fayetteville” for his age group in 2019, the fourth-grader is a star athlete. This year, he’s challenging himself even more by keeping up with high school students in his new role as a guide runner.

Rebel met Paul, a ninth-grader at West Fork High School, when the school put out a call for volunteers to help the teen compete. Paul is blind, so he needed someone to guide him through cross country courses – and Rebel was happy to step up!

Connected by a rope, the two of them started out running 2-mile stretches, but they quickly advanced to 5K races. Their next goal is to complete the latter in 20 minutes or less, and Rebel has been practicing every day to make that happen.

“I’ll admit it’s pretty hard, but it’s all for Paul. I have to do it for Paul,” Rebel said.

As for Paul, he said all of Rebel’s hard work has motivated him to push even harder. “He inspires me to run faster,” Paul explained.

And Paul isn’t the only one who appreciates Rebel’s efforts. His school, Holcomb Elementary, couldn’t be prouder of him – and the same goes for West Fork!

“Rebel is a stud runner, but even more importantly, he has a huge heart,” the high school wrote on Facebook. “Thank you, Rebel! We all appreciate you A LOT!”

Way to empower Paul to do what he loves, Rebel! You two make a fantastic team, and you’re an equally amazing guide – and friend.

Get to know this dynamic duo in the video below, and share this story to cheer them on as they conquer every challenge.

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