11/06/2026
【Rebecca: I Am No Longer a “Newcomer”】
A year ago, I joined the Fearless Dragon Running Team. As a person with hearing impairment, I felt like living between sound and silence. I could not clearly hear the noise of the world, yet I did not understand sign language at all. It was only after joining the Deaf community within Fearless Dragon that I began learning sign language from scratch, like a child just starting to speak.
Back then, I could never have imagined that just one year later, I would be standing in the Gobi Desert, taking on an extreme challenge—trekking 118 kilometers over four days and three nights. Even more unexpectedly, I would become an indispensable “bridge of communication” within a team.
In this challenge, over 80 of us were divided into 8 teams. I was assigned to Team 7, led by a Deaf captain, Jeff, while the rest of the team members were hearing.
Before the journey began, many might have wondered: in a harsh desert filled with strong winds and extreme physical demands, how could a Deaf person—unable to hear or speak—lead a team of hearing individuals?
The answer lies between the captain and me.
In the Gobi Desert, the wind howled fiercely, stinging our faces. With determination in his eyes, Jeff stood firm against the blazing sun and sandstorms, using powerful and decisive sign language—his commands, his decisions, and his care for the team. As for me, a hard-of-hearing person who had only learned sign language for a year, I focused on his hands, quickly processing and translating his signs into spoken words:
“Captain says: Team 7, line up and get ready to warm up!”
“Captain says: We will set off together after lunch tomorrow!”
“Captain says: When we approach the finish line, we sprint together!”
At that moment, our hearing teammates trusted and followed Jeff’s leadership completely through my voice. This role reversal shattered the common stereotype that able-bodied people must take care of those with disabilities. In the Gobi Desert, we proved through action that with trust, Deaf individuals are equally capable leaders.
For me personally, this was not only a test of physical endurance but also an intense mental challenge to stay focused on interpreting sign language. I felt a deep sense of pride—I was no longer just a “newcomer” in the community; I had become a bridge connecting two worlds.
One of the most powerful moments of the journey was the 10-minute “blindfold experience.” The moment I put on the blindfold, everything went pitch black. Walking on the uneven, rocky terrain of the Gobi Desert, where I could trip at any moment, a wave of fear overwhelmed me. I could not see the path, nor could I see the captain’s sign language. I completely lost my sense of direction. Yet soon after, I held onto the backpack of the teammate in front of me, and was guided forward through the sound of the wind.
In those short 10 minutes, our team completed a perfect cycle of inclusion: the Deaf captain made silent decisions through sign language, teammates passed messages through voice, and in the darkness, we entrusted ourselves to one another. In that moment, none of us was perfect, but we truly placed our lives in each other’s hands.
In the end, we overcame extreme weather and physical limits. Team 7 successfully completed the 118-kilometer challenge safely together. As we crossed the finish line hand in hand, silent emotions and loud cheers intertwined across the desert. We did it. We proved that with trust, there are no boundaries between people with and without disabilities.
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Our team of 83 warriors forms a true community of shared lives. With unity and mutual support, we will take on a 118-kilometer journey together: 8 visually impaired participants, 12 hearing-impaired teammates, 2 young people with SEN, 1 mother in mental health recovery, along with our strongest and most selfless guides and volunteer support team.
If you are impressed by their determination and perseverance, please click the link below to support our mission. Your support will empower more people with disabilities to challenge themselves and live without limits—helping them break barriers and take the first step toward transforming their lives.
Donation Link
https://www.inclusive.org.hk/donate
