Chinese student carries disabled friend to school every day so he doesn’t miss class

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Serving humanity is considered to be equivalent to serving God. People who help others without any intention of gaining anything in return, restore everyone's faith in humanity in these times of greed, and deceit. They are the precious gems of humanity, and just like the things that are precious, they are rare too.

One such person is 18-year-old Xie Xu from China. The boy has, for the last three years, been taking his differently-abled friend and classmate, Zhang Chi to school on his back. Zhang is neither Xie's relative nor does Xie share any connection with his classmate other than that of friendship and humanity. Yet, the level of empathy shown by Xie demands respect and gives inspiration.

Zhang Chi suffers from muscular dystrophy and is unable to walk. It is a hereditary condition, which leads to progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles. Also, the disease is incurable. The patient is limited only to his bed or wheelchair as the weakened muscles are unable to bear the weight of the body.

To help his friend continue studying, Xie Xu decided to take Zhang Chi to school himself. His efforts have helped Zhang to attend school every day. According to Guo Chunxi, the deputy headmaster at Daxu High School, where the boys study, Zhang has not missed a single class because of his friend. He called their friendship 'touching' and 'inspiring.'

The story of the two friends has gone viral on Chinese social media website, Sina Weibo, and Xie Xu is being called 'the most beautiful student in China.'

The lack of any formal assistance for differently-abled students in educational institutions in China makes it very difficult for them to attain formal education. Those, who do not have friends like Xie Xu with them, are forced to spend their life in a wheelchair, and are never able to realize their dreams. A recent Human Rights report on China by US Department of State estimated that as many as 243,000 school-age children in China do not go to school due to disabilities.

However, the boys will soon part ways to enter different colleges. And, in the absence of laws protecting differently-abled people from discrimination, the future of Zhang Chi without his friend won't be very easy.