By Wei Ruyu, compiled and reported
Taiwanese polar ultramarathon runner Chen Yanbo was awarded a dream fund of NT$200,000 by JOHNNIE WALKER to advance toward the next stop — a South American ultramarathon event — in pursuit of his five-year, seven-continent, eight-race “578 Plan” Keep Walking.
Chen Yanbo (pictured left) receives the dream fund from Diageo Taiwan Managing Director Chu Chen-hao. (Photo provided / Diageo DIAGEO)
Chen Yanbo has already completed grueling missions in the Himalayas, the North Pole, Antarctica, and the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. Now 25 years old, he successfully conquered the Kalahari Desert in South Africa in October this year (2011), enduring a day-night temperature difference of up to 55°C. On his longest day, he ran for over 10 hours, climbed three mountains, crossed two grasslands, and even ran until seven toenails fell off. Yet, he still persevered to finish the race and secured third place. Chen Yanbo said, “To me, a dream is not just about desire or achievement, but about making life more meaningful. Even in the last second, I want to be closer to my dream!” He further explained that life is like a journey, and we are all travelers. But to enrich this journey, one must first let go of all distractions, dare to listen to the voice within, set goals, and take action to achieve them.
Chen Yanbo’s passion and perseverance inspired the “RUN!Chen Yanbo Sponsorship Campaign” launched by JOHNNIE WALKER on Facebook, where every “like” sponsored him NT$5. In a short time, it gained support from 40,000 fans and raised NT$200,000 in dream funds. Next, he will face the South American ultramarathon competition in Brazil in May 2012, challenging himself to run 190 kilometers in one day through jungles, sand dunes, and lakes.
Chen Yanbo KEEP WALKING takes on the 2012 South American ultramarathon. (Photo provided / Diageo DIAGEO)
Returning to Chen Yanbo’s original intention of challenging the world with his own two feet, as he said, competing with himself without focusing on rankings is an experience that makes the world you see ever wider. Those who have a dream can visit the JOHNNIE WALKER “Dream. Walker” Facebook fan page — “Yanbo’s 5 Tools for Chasing Dreams” — to learn the secrets of how Chen Yanbo pursues his dreams: www.facebook.com/JohnnieWalkerTaiwan