Don Bosco Technique – Fidar had the honor of welcoming Mrs. May El Khalil, founder and president of the Beirut Marathon Association, for an inspiring meeting with students from the Physical Education and Sports (EPS) department, who are preparing to participate in the Spinneys Beirut Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2026.
More than a meeting centered on a sporting event, this visit became a meaningful opportunity for sharing, motivation, and reflection on perseverance, overcoming challenges, and the ability to transform life’s hardships into opportunities for change.
From a Life-Changing Accident to the Birth of a Dream
During her visit, May El Khalil shared her extraordinary life story with the students, recounting a challenging experience that would profoundly change the course of her life.
In 2001, while training for a run, she was involved in a serious road accident that nearly took her life. Following a coma, a lengthy hospitalization, and 36 surgical procedures, she faced a long and difficult journey of recovery.
Yet, it was during this challenging period that an extraordinary ambition was born: to establish an international marathon in Lebanon. No longer able to run as she once had, she decided to give others the opportunity to run, challenge themselves, and unite around a common cause.
Her vision became a reality in 2003 with the first edition of the Beirut International Marathon, which has since grown into a symbol of hope, unity, and resilience for Lebanon.
Through her testimony, May El Khalil reminded the students that an obstacle does not necessarily mark the end of a dream. On the contrary, it can become the starting point of a project capable of transforming thousands of lives.
The Beirut Marathon: Running for a Purpose Greater Than Ourselves
Addressing the EPS students directly, May El Khalil presented the vision and objectives of the Beirut Marathon, emphasizing that the event goes far beyond athletic performance and competition.
The marathon carries a powerful human and social mission: bringing people together beyond their differences, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging solidarity, supporting humanitarian causes, and showcasing a positive image of Lebanon through sports.
She encouraged the students to approach their participation in the November 29 marathon as a meaningful life experience, where every kilometer represents commitment, effort, and personal achievement.
For these future sports professionals, her intervention offered a valuable opportunity to understand that physical education extends beyond mastering techniques and improving performance. It is also a powerful means of educating, uniting, inspiring, and making a positive contribution to society.
Discovering Don Bosco Technique: A Visit Marked by Admiration
The visit also gave Mrs. El Khalil the opportunity to discover Don Bosco Technique’s educational environment and facilities.
Particularly impressed by the quality of the laboratories, technical equipment, and training spaces, she expressed her admiration for the diversity of educational programs offered and the institution’s approach to education.
She also highlighted the warmth of the welcome she received, expressing her happiness at meeting the students and discovering an institution deeply committed to the education and development of young people.
The meeting revealed a shared vision: believing in every young person’s potential, providing them with the means to develop their talents, and encouraging them to become positive contributors to society.
Toward a Future Partnership Between Don Bosco Technique and the Beirut Marathon Association
Beyond the exchanges with students, the visit opened the door to promising opportunities for future collaboration.
Impressed by the institution’s dynamism and the possibilities offered by its various educational programs and facilities, May El Khalil expressed her interest in exploring the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Beirut Marathon Association and Don Bosco Technique.
Such a partnership could pave the way for joint projects, sports initiatives, educational and social activities, and enriching experiences for students.
This shared ambition reflects the importance of building lasting connections between education, sports, and community engagement.
A Meeting That Leaves a Lasting Impact
For the EPS students, this visit represented much more than another step in their preparation for the Beirut Marathon. It offered them the opportunity to meet an inspiring figure whose journey demonstrates how determination, perseverance, and commitment can transform personal hardship into an initiative that benefits an entire nation.
Don Bosco Technique extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. May El Khalil for her presence, her sincere testimony, her encouragement, and the confidence she expressed in the institution.
At Don Bosco Technique, we believe that educating young people also means teaching them to overcome their limits, believe in their dreams, and use their talents in the service of others.
A conviction that found its full meaning during this memorable encounter, where the spirit of sports perfectly aligned with the educational values of Don Bosco.
