Official Kids Mag

and is naturally talented. He's gone above and beyond as a volunteer. He's mentally tough too. You've got a fourth grader that's helping out a high school runner." She noted that every course is different, and that when they get to the cross-country course, "Rebel is always thinking of Paul and asking himself, 'How can I get faster for Paul?' On the day of a race, he's there to help guide Paul through the warm-up and stretches. He goes over the course with Paul before the race and goes to the line with him. Paul trusts Rebel to guide him. They've had some successful races together. They know each other as friends, so it's a really cool relationship that they have." This year, the boys moved up from a two-mile race to the 5K (3.1 miles). Coach Surber, who also teaches elementary school PE, said that Paul came to West Fork in the third grade. "That year, his sisters, who are also blind, were on my team," she said. Paul's brother, Timothy, is blind, too. "All four of them have run for me. They feel free when they're running." The Scotts have nine children in all, with seven of them adopted and two, biological. Paul, 17, has been learning English over the years. "He loves to run. He always has his Rubik's Cube with him. He's very good at chess and card tricks." Rebel said that running with Paul is fun, "but it can be hard sometimes when I have to pull Paul to encourage him to run faster. It's really hard in big races with lots of runners because I have to pull Paul through all the runners as we are sprinting." Next year the boys' goal is to break their best time of 20 minutes, 59 seconds. "They hope to be in the 19-minute range in 5K. That's pretty fast, especially for a blind kid," Coach Surber said. She admitted that running cross country, like any sport, has dangers. This is especially true for the visually impaired. "Over the years, these kids have fallen. But every time they get up. They don't cry. They're tough. They don't want you to feel sorry for them. Paul did fall a couple of times, but he got up and didn't cry. Lots of perseverance there. He always goes the extra mile at practice. If I gave the team a half-mile or a mile to do the cool down, he would do the mile. His teammates are inspired and it builds character that's going to carry over into their lives. Having the Scott kids has helped so much. They give their best on a daily basis." The boys and their coach have become famous. After one local news story went viral, NBC Nightly News did a short feature on November 28. They've been covered in many regional newspapers. "People have been inspired by them. I've had lots of emails and feedback," Coach Surber explained. It's heartwarming to see Rebel's unselfish devotion to Paul. "Even though I do it," he said, "it's just to help Paul and nothing else. I don't get to win—he does, and that's what's on my mind." Rebel's mom, Louann Hays, says she's very proud of her son "for stepping up to help Paul and be committed to him for the past three years. Rebel doesn't think twice about it, he just does it. I love watching the two of them with their cards and the friendship they've developed. I believe that their story is showing others that even with a disability you can compete and that some of the neatest friendships come from those with the biggest differences." "rebel is always thinking of paul and asking himself, 'How can I get faster for paul?' " ~ West Fork coach tiffany surber www.officialKidsMag.com • January 2021 • 11

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