Aidan Vasey and his cousin, Nate Hussin, head for the finish line at the Petrolia Optimist Cross Country meet.

Aidan Vasey just wanted to be part of the team and his cousin knew just how to make it happen.

Vasey is a St. Phillip’s Catholic School student who, according to his father, Joel, has special needs.  He likes to run.

So when the Petrolia Optimist’s annual cross-country meet came around, Vasey talked about competing.  “He likes being on the team,” says Joel.

Vasey had run the course over the last two years, but this year he was hesitating; concerned he might get lost on the course which winds through the wooded area of Petrolia Discovery. So Joel Vasey asked the conveners if Aidan could have a guide. When they said yes, he knew just the right person; Aidan’s cousin Nathan Hussin.

Hussin, a LCCVI football player, is close to the elementary school student and was happy to run along side his cousin. “I just wanted to help him out…help him on the trail and give him a little motivation,” says Hussin.

And so the pair ran. They didn’t finish first, but they were far from last. And Aidan and his cousin, Nate, ran into the gate at the end of the race with the encouragement of school friends and his dad. “Aidan ran in the last two years without him, but he is more motivated with Nate.”

And Hussin says it shows in Aidan’s results. “He did good,” says Hussin. “He ran almost the whole way.”