Man to complete 200 mile temple run for 4-year-old boy

Man to complete 200 mile temple run for 4-year-old boy

(Photo: Wan Ho Kou)


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HERRIMAN — Wan Ho Kou of Herriman will circle the Payson Temple on Dec. 26, completing his final leg of a 200-mile run connecting the 12 temples belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Logan to Payson. It is something he is doing to help a 4-year-old boy named Ben.

It was a few months ago when Kou met Ben's parents, Kristine and Rob Watterson, while pacing the two at separate racing events. After spending so many miles with the couple, Kou felt a unique connection and reached out to the two through social media. Not long after becoming friends, Kou noticed that Kristine was posting things about some struggles her son was going through.

Kou came to learn that Ben was recently diagnosed with a genetic condition known as 22q11.2 Deletion, which is a deletion of a small piece of the 22nd chromosome. This condition causes many issues including heart defects and cognitive delays — both of which have affected Ben.

With each picture and update, Kou knew he wanted to help this little boy but didn't know how.

At first, he would pray for Ben and he placed the boy's name on the temple prayer roll when he and his wife would attend the temple. But while Kou had faith that his prayers were being heard, he wanted to do more.

In October, he dedicated his St. George Marathon race to Ben — along with his son who is serving an LDS mission in Mongolia — by printing both of their names on his cap.

Wan Ho Kou poses with other runners at the Jordan River Temple. (Photo: Kristine Watterson)
Wan Ho Kou poses with other runners at the Jordan River Temple. (Photo: Kristine Watterson)

It was on the drive home from St. Gorge, however, when Kou got the overwhelming thought to dedicate his next big run to Ben. This time, he would raise money to help his family with medical bills.

Just a little over a month later, on Nov. 14, Kou would embark on a bucket list item connecting the 12 LDS temples from Logan to Payson through a series of four separate runs. He decided to call the run "The Temple Run 4 Ben" and raise funds with his efforts.

Kou, who is accustomed to having friends both new and old by his side, extended an open invitation to the running community to join him and many answered the call, logging as many miles as time and physical ability would allow.

Kristine and Rob Watterson have lent their running legs to their son, with Kristine Watterson having completed a personal best distance of over 32 miles during the first run from the Logan to Brigham City.

"Each time we reach a temple, we run a lap around it," Kristine Watterson said. "It has been faith building. I've felt closer to my savior and felt that he is aware of us."

Kou has also been joined by new friend, Seth Myer, who has been able to run each of the first three runs from start to finish. Together they completed nearly 140 miles connecting the Logan, Brigham City, Draper, Oquirrh Mountain, Jordan River and Salt Lake City temples.

Myer described the experiences running between the temples for Ben as being very spiritual.

"I view running as a long prayer," Myer said. "But running to the temples with Wan brought that to a new level, as every morning Wan would call on someone to give a prayer to start the run, dedicating the run to Ben. Through these runs, I have been able to think more about God and my faith."

Wan Ho Kou is pictured with fellow runners upon reaching the Salt Lake City Temple. (Photo: Arianne Brown)
Wan Ho Kou is pictured with fellow runners upon reaching the Salt Lake City Temple. (Photo: Arianne Brown)

Myer added one more detail that has made each temple run so special.

"In preparation for each run, Wan writes a list of names with Ben being one of them, then folds them into a temple shape — sort of like origami," he said. "He carries this list to each temple, then hands the list to a temple patron to be added to the prayer roll inside the temple."

Kristine and Rob Watterson have already felt the prayers made in their behalf, as Ben underwent heart surgery just days after the first temple run.

"When Ben went in for surgery, there was a large chance that it would need to be open heart," Kristine Watterson said. "But when we took him in, the doctors saw that the 20mm hole in between his two atria was completely centered, making it possible for them to repair his heart through the use of a catheter. The surgery couldn't have gone better."

Kristine Watterson went on to express her gratitude to Kou.

"There are tons of parents who struggle with special needs children; we're a dime a dozen," she said. "I haven't met anyone who cares for others like Wan does. There is nobody like him"

"Ben is one of the most sweetest boys I have ever met," Kou said. "On our first leg, we were able to Facetime with Ben during our run. That is really something that touched my heart. Seeing my little buddy encouraged me to keep going,and I hope that this run will help him and other kids like him to have a good life."

Kou's final run will be on the morning of Dec. 26 and will span 54 miles from the Salt Lake Temple to the Payson Temple.

For more information on the run, Kou set up a Facebook page, and for those who would like to donate, a GoFundMe account has been set up on Ben's behalf.


Arianne Brown is a mother of six young children and is an Altra, Probar, Nuun and Unshoes sponsored athlete. For more of her writings, search "A Mother's Write" on Facebook. Twitter: A_Mothers_Write

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