There are times in life when a prize doesn’t seem as sweet as the satisfaction you get from helping someone or simply being there for them when they need you.
Eight years ago, Lance Corporal Myles Kerr was all set to run the 5k at the Venetian Festival in Charlevoix.
Ready to win the event
He made sure he prepared for the event.
He even wore boots and carried a rucksack.
Starting off strong and determined
So, it’s just normal that everyone was waiting for him to finish and win the race. However, several minutes had already passed, but there was no sign of him.
That’s not typical for the young, strong, and healthy Kerr. So his teammates became worried.
They thought, maybe, something might have happened to him. He may have collapsed or suffered an injury.
Soon, they got impatient with waiting, and they ran back to the course to see what happened to Kerr. Before they started, they saw Kerr coming towards the finish line.
Accompanied by a little boy
As it turned out, Kerr decided to drop back at the race to help a boy.
While Kerr was running, he noticed a boy who was running alone.
“He was walking when I ran by him,” Kerr recalled. “I looked at him and said, ‘Hey, little guy, you alright?’ And he said, ‘Will you run with me?'”
The kind marine found out that the 9-year-old boy was already having problems catching up with his group.
Sadly, he had fallen behind, and he didn’t know what to do.
Rescuing the young boy running alone
Boden Fuchs was the little boy wanting a running partner, and Kerr stepped up. Even though it meant giving up first position in the race.
As a marine, Kerr has committed to helping the people in need, and the boy was one of them. He agreed to accompany the boy and even motivated him throughout the race.
There were many instances when Fuchs wanted to quit the race.
Encouraging the boy to keep going
With his help and his presence, the boy tried his best.
Kerr refused to abandon Fuchs.
He stayed with him until they crossed the finish line just around the 35-minute mark. That night, someone posted Kerr and Fuchs’ race photo on Facebook.
He explained what happened and shared how kind-hearted Kerr was to stick with the child and stay behind.
“By his unwavering commitment to help those in need through his ability to inspire others by his unequivocal level of motivation, Lcpl Kerr reflected great credit upon himself and was keeping in the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.”
The powerful photo quickly made headlines
Lance Corporal Myles Kerr and Boden Fuchs. What a great story. pic.twitter.com/JGd2M7aBVS
— RunMichigan (@runmichigan) August 2, 2013
“I just thought it was cool someone actually got a picture of me running with him,” Kerr said to ABC News. “Then, my recruiter ended up posting it and that’s when it took off.”
Fuchs family also handed him a $100 restaurant gift card to give thanks. Kerr said he would use it before returning to California.
Kerr doesn’t consider himself a hero.
“As a Marine, we try to reach out and help as much as we can,” he said in his interview. “I don’t think I’m a hero. I was just trying to help.”
For this humble marine, it was the right thing to do, but for Fuchs and all of us, he’s a hero.
He may not have finished the race in record-breaking time, but he made a difference for this young boy.
We are proud of the young man for being such a great example and support system for the young boy. Even though he didn’t end the race in first place he won something far greater in the end.
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