May El-Khalil Biography

Beirut, Lebanon's gorgeous capital, has seen its share of sorrow as the site of Lebanon's long-running civil war (1975-1990) and the 2006 Israeli-Lebanese War. However, in 2003, May El-Khalil, a local sports leader, felt that as an antidote to sectarianism, it was time to create a marathon accessible to everybody. Despite continuous political and security pressures, the Beirut Marathon, now in its 11th year, has grown into not just the Middle East's greatest running event but also a strong force for peace. After a personal tragedy, a near-fatal running mishap, El-Khalil was motivated to start the marathon. Doctors said she would never be able to run again. She spent two years in the hospital and had to go through a series of operations. However, the determination born of this personal fight has resulted in an annual event that brings together runners and supporters from competing political and religious organizations in a symbolic gesture of peace. For example, more than 33,000 runners showed out on a wet and windy November day in 2012. This concept is currently being replicated by other nations in the area.

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