CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One of the city’s most popular races is this weekend and will include two runners with a very special story.
A fifth grader who is legally blind will CLT Runway 5K at Charlotte Douglas International Airport with the help of his mom who won the race back in 2019.
Ten-year-old Luke Fechtel inherited his love of running from his mom Anne. He started running in first grade.
“Everyone else was playing sports, so I was trying to think of something that I could do and running came to me, and it turns out, I really like running,” Luke told WCNC Charlotte's Michelle Boudin.
He and his older sister and younger brother were all born with a rare genetic disease that has severely limited their vision.
“I can see colors, but I get them confused sometimes," Luke explained. "I can see shapes and everything. I guess you would say my vision is blurry, but I don’t know because I don’t know what you’re vision is like. It’s called visually impaired, so that means my vison is low. I’m legally blind, but I’m not totally blind.”
Anne Fechtel has been running since she was in high school and is loving how she can experience it with her kids.
“It’s actually amazing,” Anne Fechtel said. “It’s something you don’t expect to have, wasn’t part of the plan when I was having children that they would all be blind, but life has different turns. My kids teach me so many things. They experience life differently, and I get to be a part of it.”
Luke practices running during recess on his school's track.
“That’s probably where I feel the most comfortable because I'm not going to hit anything, and I can see the track," Luke shared.
He said the high contract lines on the track help guide him. However, at the 5K this weekend, his mom will act as a guide for him.
"How it works is, I run beside my mom, and I have a tether, so it’s a rope with two loops," Luke explained. "I hold one end, my mom holds the other, and she uses that to guide me.”
Anne Fechtel admitted she's a mix of proud and nervous.
“I do worry," Anne Fechtel said. "As any parent, there is a fear with parenting, but having children with disabilities an extra layer of fear, but you have to keep going, and every little milestone I was nervous about, my kids always showed me what was possible.”
All that fear will subside when she gets back on the runway with her favorite running buddy.
“I really am just there to let him know if there’s a change in surface or a turn coming up," Anne Fechtel said. "He is so determined and puts a lot of heart into it, so it’s a lot of fun to see.”
Luke can’t wait to hit the pavement, too.
“I think it's going to be really cool and a good test of how fast I am, because it's going to be flat, and I hope I can beat my record," Luke said.
Both said they plan to run more races together in the future.
Contact Michelle Boudin at mboudin@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
