Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Eleven young athletes from the Help Center are taking part in the 5-km “Beirut Marathon 2018”, which is tailored for people with intellectual disabilities.

The 16th edition of “Beirut Marathon 2018” is taking place on Sunday in the Lebanese capital.

The team consists of Deema Al-Zahrani, Shahad Sunbol, Lama Al-Dokki, Ahmed Hakim, Anas Bin Rabaa, Ahmad Muqaddam, Mohammed Kwaikbi, Abdullah Al-Amiri, Abdulrahman Arab, Mohammed Mokhtar, and Abdulaziz Al-Mubarak.

The male athletes have previously participated and won in several competitions inside and outside of the Kingdom. This year the Help Center is introducing female athletes for the first time in a competition outside Kingdom.

The participation in this year’s marathon was made possible with the support of Gandour.

The Help Center, a non-profit philanthropic organization founded in November 1985 by the late Sheikh Ahmad Al-Juffali, caters to people with intellectual disabilities from birth to adulthood and beyond. Its mission is to continually raise awareness and shed light on the abilities and talents of these people by helping them participate in various events, locally and globally. “Participation in such events not only promotes a social platform for our athletes to meet fellow athletes from all over the world but also allows them to excel and enhance their athletic capabilities,” said a press statement.