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12-Year-Old Chinese Boy Carries His Disabled Friend To School Every Day

12-Year-Old Chinese Boy Carries His Disabled Friend To School Every Day

It's bleak out there, but this is a lovely story

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

We all need a lift from a friend sometimes. However, it's not often as literal as the lift that 12-year-old Xu Bingyang has been giving to his pal Zhang Ze for the past six years.

In fact, Xu has been carrying his friend - who suffers from a muscular condition that means he can't walk for himself - to school since they were in grade one. That's dedication.

Seriously, the young LAD gives his dear friend a piggyback to and from school, between lessons, helps him get lunch... everywhere, basically.

The two kids live in China's Sichuan Province, more specifically in the city of Meishan. Recently, a couple of news outlets found out about the two mates and decided to tell their unique and heart-warming tale.

Sichuan Online

Xu does everything that he needs to do to help Zhang get his education, and says that he doesn't mind one bit. He told Sichuan Online and Xinhua that he loves being his mate's 'walking stick'.

It's not as if Zhang weighs a great deal, either. Xu explained, via MailOnline: "I weigh more than 40kg (88 pounds) and Zhang Ze only weighs about 25kg (55 pounds), so it's okay for me to carry him."

However, the magnitude of what his friend does isn't lost on Zhang. He said: "Xu Bingyang is my best friend. Every day, he studies with me, chats with me and plays with me. [I] thank him to look after me like this every day."

It all started back in their first year at school. Xu and Zhang both attend the Hebazi Town Central Primary School, but Zhang was diagnosed at the age of four with a condition that causes him to have no control over his leg muscles.

Xinhua/Weibo

The condition is called myasthenia gravis - also known as the rag doll disease - and means he can't walk. It's extremely rare.

Luckily for him, however, he's been able to attend school just like normal thanks to the kindness of his good friend.

Obviously, carrying someone around all day isn't easy. It can take a bit of time and effort to do, but Xu is happy to do it. He reckons it is his duty to help out where he can.

He told Chengdu Economic Channel: "I am bigger than him. I thought if I didn't help him, nobody else would."

Xinhua/Weibo

One of Xu's teachers says that the youngster is mature and down to earth, and works hard. So it would seem.

The teacher told Sichuan Online: "For so many years, [Xu] has continued doing good deeds and never complained in front of the teachers and classmates."

Long may it continue. See, it's not all bad out there, after all.

Featured Image Credit: Sichuan Online

Topics: World News, News, Inspirational, Interesting, Feels, China