Life is little bit tough for me,
but I have to keep on running…
- Shariff
When you cross the finishing line, you get the Singapore Flag, It’s something amazing. This is a history I have done something for Singapore, do something for the people around.
- Shariff
Life is a black box, if you have negative mindset, the box is all darkness; You have to break the box and find your own way; Once you break the box, you can see sunshine and hope.
- Shariff
Play Video: The story of Shariff Abdullah, Singapore Blade Runner
刀锋战士
他叫Shariff Abdullah，新加坡刀锋战士。
他只有一条腿，却已经完成了29个国际马拉松，6个超极马拉松和3个极限马拉松。
Shariff的一生是坎坷的，在人生中最灰暗的日子里，是奔跑拯救了他。吉伯特说：“每朵乌云背后都有阳光”。像Shariff一样最大限度地去努力，只要你能保持乐观，你就能看见希望。
苦难是人生的老师
1968年11月10日，在新加坡的一个马来甘榜里，一个婴儿呱呱坠地。可是他的诞生并没有给大人们带来太多的喜悦，因为他一出生就没有左脚，这个婴儿就是Shariff。
幼年的Shariff开始学着用短一截的断肢一瘸一拐地走路，有时只能跳着甚至艰难地爬着往前移动。40年前的村民十分迷信，他们觉得残疾是不吉利的象征，有些人朝他吐口水，用石头扔他，甚至用各种肮脏的话辱骂他。更残酷的是，他的母亲抛弃了他和父亲，离开了村子。从那之后，白天父亲出门工作，保姆害怕他出门闯祸，就用一条铁链将他锁在家中。
7岁那年Shariff的父亲给他买了一个木头做的简易假肢，他终于可以跟正常的孩子一样去学校上学了。就在生活刚刚出现转机的时候，他的父亲和保姆相继去世，八岁的Shariff成了孤儿。他只能寄居在保姆的亲戚家，被当成皮球一样从一个屋檐下踢到另一个屋檐下，每天过着寄人篱下、提心吊胆的日子，尝尽人生百态。
时光流逝，少年的Shariff决定放弃学业，赚钱养家，但因为身体残障而屡屡碰壁。于是他只能用长裤遮挡住残缺的那条腿，假装自己是一个身体健全的普通人，才获得了第一份在樟宜机场做清洁工的工作，从拖地板开始慢慢地做到了管理层。1992年在朋友的介绍下他认识了现在的太太，两人感情迅速升温，年底结婚，三个女儿相继出生。他努力工作，给家人买了大房子，一家人生活幸福美满。
晴天霹雳
有妻女围绕在身边，Shariff每天的生活平静而简单。没想到的是老天爷再次跟他开了一个残酷的玩笑。2008年的一天，由于长时间佩戴义肢，导致左腿感染，必须立即往上截肢5英寸。这个消息如同晴天霹雳，一瞬间击垮了Shariff，撕碎了他一直以来在公众面前伪装得如同正常人一样的人生。
童年的噩梦再次缠绕上他，回忆起那一块块朝自己扔过来的石子、那一声声辱骂自己的恶毒语句，他崩溃了。他觉得自己再也无法掩盖他缺失的那条腿，他现在所得的一切，工作、家庭、美满的人生都会瞬间消失。他如同如行尸走肉一般，自杀的念头无数次盘旋在脑海中。
2008年12月24日，做完截肢手术回到家中的Shariff看着空荡荡的裤管，万念俱灰。他打开电脑，在键盘上敲下了“如何自杀…”这一行字。就在他犹豫不决的那个时刻，一位名叫Oscar Pistorius的残疾人短跑运动员的视频阴差阳错地出现在电脑屏幕中。运动员奔跑在红色的跑道上，义肢仿佛锋利的尖刀，一次又一次扎向大地。Sharif兴奋地搜索运动员的信息：“刀锋战士”， “世界上跑得最快的无腿人”。
“刀锋战士”就好像暗夜里的一束光，照亮了他，内心深处一个微弱的声音发出来：“我也可以奔跑”。
凤凰涅槃
希望能让一个人在绝望的海上找到一块浮板，漂到生活的彼岸。原本准备告别这个世界的Shariff再一次拥抱了这个世界。
有了目标他就开始制定计划来实现它，医生跟他说要一年才能康复，但是三个月之后Shariff就戴着全新的义肢站在了义顺体育馆的跑道上。还未完全恢复的伤口由于身体的重量和与义肢的摩擦，在走路的时候都会渗出鲜血。当Shariff迈开脚步，他觉得自己充满了力量。这一次，他没有放弃，每天坚持训练，从只能行走到可以慢跑100米，200米·····
一旦下定决心，一切便开始悄悄改变。他人生中的第一场跑步赛事是2.5公里的公益跑，紧接着他参加了当年的日落马拉松，26分钟跑完了5公里赛程，越跑越得心应手。从此他爱上了用一只脚和一只义肢的奔跑。在这个过程中他也遇到了不少帮助自己的人，有一天他接到一位名叫Beatrice Tan的华人女士的电话，捐给他3000块钱买了一个更适合奔跑的义肢。到现在已经过去了十几年，Shariff依然心怀感恩，即使他们从未谋面。
2009年他参加了新加坡渣打马拉松，以7小时的时间完成了人生的一个42公里全程马拉松。到现在，他已经完成了29个国际性马拉松，6个超极马拉松和3个极限马拉松。2018年他受邀挑战全球最艰难的极限马拉松赛事之一“北极点马拉松”，也是世界上第一位参加这个赛事的“刀锋战士”。当他挥舞着新加坡国旗跪在终点线时，他觉得自己人生的意义得到了升华。
生命影响生命
Shariff的事迹很快感染了大众，他开始接到运动品牌的代言和赛事邀请，同时参加了许多公益奔跑活动，为弱势群体筹款，包括2019年底的Relay Majulah前进接力赛。作为 200个跑者成员之一，一起完成了2000公里的跑程，支持“总统挑战“旗下的67个慈善团体。
2019年，新冠疫情全球爆发，经济萧条，人们情绪低迷，甚至有人抑郁想要自杀，Shariff被各种机构和团体邀请去做励志演讲，鼓舞人心。Shariff更了解希望对于一个人来说意味着什么，他想要帮助这些人重建他们对生活的信念。他用自己过去几十年的经历告诉人们：
“生活就像一个黑匣子，如果你抱着消极的心态，那么这个箱子就全是黑暗的。你必须打破常规，找到适合自己的方式。一旦打破这个盒子，你就会看到阳光和希望。”
-- Shariff
am Shariff Abdullah,
the Singapore Blade Runner.
Shariff completed an incredible feat of 29 international marathons, six ultra-marathons and three extreme marathons – on just one leg.
Greatest Challenges are the Best Teachings in Life
Life was a bumpy ride for Shariff.
On 10th November 1968 at a Malay kampong here in Singapore, baby Shariff came to this world. However, his birth did not bring much joy as he was born without a left leg.
In his adolescent years, Shariff learned to walk with a limp on his broken leg and would sometimes resort to crawling. Villagers living in the kampong 40 years ago can superstitious, many viewed his disability as a sign of an ill omen. They spat and threw stones at him and even hurled humiliating insults at the kid. Shariff’s mother separated with his father soon enough and left the kampong. When his father works in the day, his foster mother would confine Shariff at home with a chain in fear that he might get into trouble.
At the age of seven, Shariff’s father gifted him with a basic prosthetic leg, and he was finally able to attend school like a normal child. Just as life started getting back on track, eight-year-old Shariff became an orphan, after both his father and foster mother passed away. He was made to stay with the relatives of his foster mother, where he was kicked around like a ball from one place to another. He began to live a life full of fear and uncertainty.
As time went by, Shariff continued to face many hardships as he stepped out to the society with his physical handicap. He had to conceal the broken leg with long trousers before securing his first job at Changi Airport Terminal 1. Shariff worked hard and rose to a managerial position from a junior cleaner. At the age of 24, under the introduction of a friend, he met a beautiful lady and fell in love. After marriage, they were blessed with three beautiful daughters. Shariff continued to be diligent at work to support his family living in a big house filled with love.
Calm Before the Storm
With his loving wife and daughters by his side, life seemed easy and carefree for Shariff. Yet, things took a turn one day in 2008. Shariff’s left leg contracted an infection due to prolonged hours of wearing prosthetics, which necessitated an immediate 5-inch amputation. The disturbing news was a bolt from the blue which crushed Shariff almost instantly. It shattered the facade he had been putting on in front of people, as he could no longer lead a life where he could pretend to be an able-bodied person.
The nightmares of his childhood creeped back. Unpleasant memories of stones, spit and vicious slurs thrown at Shariff eventually broke him. He could no longer hide his missing leg behind his trousers. What little he had – his job, family, a life at ease – could all disappear in an instant.
Shariff was engulfed in misery and depression following the amputation surgery. As his eyes fell on his pants, he felt numb. “How to end my life …” were the words he keyed into his computer. It was by pure coincidence that a video of Oscar Pistorius, a para-athlete, flashed across his screen. Out of curiosity, Shariff continued looking up on this athlete and terms like “Blade Runner”, “the world’s fastest limbless man” filled the search results.
“Blade Runner”, was almost like the light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel for Shariff. “I can run as well”, was the thought that lifted him up once again.
Rising from the Ashes
Shariff made a life-changing decision to embrace this world and give it another shot.
He made plans to achieve his ultimate goal. His recuperation period was set to be at least a year, yet Shariff took his first sprint at Yishun Stadium just three months later in his new prosthetic leg. Friction between the artificial device and his wounded, tender skin caused abrasion and he would bleed with every stride. Even so, Shariff felt empowered and alive. He did not bow down to obstacles this time. Distances of a mere 100m, soon turned into 200m and so on…
Shariff completed the first marathon of his life at a 2.5km charity run. He then participated in the Sundown Marathon where he completed 5km in just 26 minutes. With practise, running became a breeze for Shariff and he fell in love with sprinting on one prosthetic leg. In 2009, he ran the Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon, completing his first 42.195km in seven hours.
Shariff was invited to run one of the world’s toughest extreme marathons, the North Pole Marathon, in 2018. He completed it with tenacity and was the first “Blade Runner” in the world to do so. As he stood at the finish line waving the Singapore flag, he found the meaning to life.
Inspiring Lives
Shariff is an inspiration and his story inspired many. He began receiving endorsements and race offers from major sports brands, and in numerous charity runs to raise money for the underprivileged. He participated Relay Majulah to raise funds for 67 charities supported by President’s Challenge in 2019.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world confronted with the impact of an economic recession, and some people were depressed and even suicidal from the bleak future brought about by the outbreak. Shariff was invited by various organisations to motivate the community because he, for one, understands what optimism can mean to a person. He was more than willing to lend a help to those in need and rebuild their confidence in life.