Brave hearts and bright futures
Visually-impaired students refuse to be defined or limited
TEN-YEAR-OLD Sheldon Cunningham loves football. He also dreams of one day becoming a race car driver, while 14-year-old Alex Hyatt wants to be a musician and finds joy in home economics. On the surface, they sound like any other boys their age. But Sheldon and Alex are both visually impaired, and their journeys have been anything but typical.
As students at the Salvation Army School for the Blind, the two boys have learned to navigate life without the benefit of clear sight. Sheldon was born with cataracts, a condition that clouds the lens of the eye and can lead to severe vision loss. For Alex, blindness has been his reality since birth. Born prematurely, he never had the opportunity to see the world in the way most of us take for granted.
Still, both boys refuse to be defined or limited by their visual impairments.
“I have cataracts,” Sheldon said, “but it doesn’t affect my everyday life. I still enjoy football, I still do my schoolwork, and I have a special love for mathematics.”
When faced with a challenge, Sheldon explained that he thinks carefully and tries to figure things out. That quiet resilience is echoed in the way Alex approaches his own condition. “I was born blind, but it doesn’t stop me. I pray to God, and He helps me accept who I am. That helps me to be confident in everything I do,” expressed Alex.
Their courage was on full display at the recent media launch of Everyone’s A Winner, an initiative put on by Running Events Jamaica with title sponsorship by Best Dressed Chicken. This year, the initiative is once again partnering with the Jamaica Society for the Blind, with proceeds going toward eyecare treatments and surgeries for more than 10 students at the Salvation Army School for the Blind, including Sheldon and Alex.
Being selected as beneficiaries brought a sense of joy and encouragement to both boys.
“It made me feel happy that people chose me and my school,” said Sheldon. “I’m thankful that people care about us.”
For Alex, the gesture was also deeply meaningful. “It means a lot that people are running and walking to help students like me. It’s good to know we are not forgotten.”
Their advice to other children who are struggling with vision loss is heartfelt and inspiring. “Just because you’re blind doesn’t mean you can’t do everyday activities,” said Sheldon. “You can still play, still learn, still be happy.”
Alex offers a message of faith and strength: “No matter what, God is there for you. Even if you’re blind, God will help you accept it and still live a full life.”
The Best Dressed Chicken Everyone’s A Winner Road Race took place on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, at Hope Gardens. Beneficiaries from the Salvation Army School for the Blind, along with teachers, were at the event, celebrating the generosity of those running and walking to help transform lives.
