“It’s not only good for your body, but it’s also good for your mind,” said Jessica Chandler, Middletown schools’ certified orientation and mobility specialist, to the children.
“We know kids in America are already not physically active, and then you take kids who are visually impaired they’re really not physically active,” Chandler said. “So the need for fitness in children who are blind might be greater because of the increased energy required of daily living.”
Walt lost his vision 26 years ago following a racing accident at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg. The message the former racer and recently retired owner of the Madison House told the students was “they can’t be held back.”
“I know how they feel,” said Wilmot, who had secluded himself for nearly 20 years. “I want them to know they can’t be held back, they got to get out and do things.”
Earlier this week, Wilmot ran seven miles on the YMCA’s indoor track.
Wilmot shared with the students how to run on their own by wrapping a reusable cloth bandage around their hands.
For first time in her life, 13-year-old Makenna Kash, a Central Academy student who is completely blind, ran by herself Friday afternoon. Proud of her accomplishment, she plans to tell her parents she “learned how to run on my own with a bandage” and hopes to come back to the YMCA with her dad.
Marriah Grate, 16, also attends Central Academy. The exercise wore her out, she said, but “it makes your legs strong. It will be easier the next time.”
Students Katelyn South, 12, and Austin Broffitt, 12, said the meeting with Wilmot inspired them.
“No matter what disability you can have, you can do anything,” Katelyn said.
She hopes to convince her grandmother she needs a YMCA membership so she can walk around the track again, she said.
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