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[TD="class: media__caption media__caption--black, bgcolor: #000000"]Sarmad Tariq? Photo courtesy: Sarmad Tariq | Majority of us can walk but how many of us can actually walk tall?
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ISLAMABAD: Motivational speaker, story teller and Pakistan's first ever quadriplegic athlete, Sarmad Tariq, passed away late on Tuesday.
After entering into a diving accident in his teen years, Sarmad Tariq was left with both his arms and legs sensation-less. Rather than give in to the situation, Sarmad chose a life full of challenges that even able-bodied people would think twice before undertaking.
He believed his condition was reason for his spiritual liberation.
Confined to a wheelchair, Sarmad was the first and only wheelchair-bound-athlete in Pakistan's first ever Lahore Marathon in 2005.
He not only participated in the event but finished the race distance of 42km in seven and a half hours, qualifying to represent his country in ING New York City Marathon 2005 and made history for Pakistan by returning with a finisher?s medal.
He was an inspiration for a source of inspiration for many.
Known as the 'Chairman', Sarmad was married and settled in Islamabad.
He had been suffering from multiple ailments and his condition deteriorated during the past few months for which he was undergoing treatment that was more often painful rather than relieving
[h=1]I didn?t know who Sarmad Tariq was? until he passed away[/h]
Can someone you?ve never known, someone whose name you?ve never heard of, inspire you enough to rethink your entire life?
Apparently it can.
It was only a couple of Facebook posts and the news of his death that moved me, leaving me feeling a little broken inside.
When I logged on to Twitter this morning, I found my timeline flooded with people mourning the death of Sarmad Tariq and talking about what a great person he was. Initially, I didn?t care much. I mean, people die all the time. Famous people die too. And everyone sings their praises after they are gone.
There was nothing very interesting about this news.
But after reading a number of tweets, I was intrigued enough to go to his Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=694861820540818&set=vb.385639618129708&type=2&theater