Coming from the small, inland city of Zhumadian in Henan province, Xuanxuan said that he'd never met another transplant recipient there.

"Some people in my hometown may not even be aware of such a medical procedure," he said. "It's amazing to see so many people here who have traveled a similar path to me."

As Xuanxuan finished his leg of the relay, gasping for air due to exertion, Zhao Gaofeng, head of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University's lung transplantation surgery department, reminded him to slow his pace gradually rather than stopping immediately.

Zhao was the doctor who first introduced the possibility of an organ transplant to Xuanxuan in October 2019 when the boy and his family were running out of treatment options after consulting doctors in Henan and Beijing. Zhao was also one of the lead surgeons who carried out the transplant operation for Xuanxuan.

As the leader of the competing team from his hospital, Zhao said it was touching and uplifting to see recovered patients take part in the activities.

"On the one hand, I think the event can boost their confidence in carrying on with their lives despite their struggles and in most cases, life-threatening battles against diseases," he said. "On the other hand, the event can play a role in expanding awareness about organ transplantation and the medical procedure's profound significance."