Hi, my name is Salim (“Sal”) Bousleiman and I would like to give back to children in need in my native country, Lebanon, by donating $100 for each mile of my first ever 100-mile ultramarathon race, which will take place in Maryland on March 25, 2022!! Please help me raise the funds to make a powerful charitable impact.

 

At age 29, I was diagnosed with a rare and terminal blood disorder, aplastic anemia with PNH (affects 1-1.5 persons/million). There weren’t any treatment options available in Lebanon, so I had to leave the country to seek treatment at MSKCC in NY. Under their wonderful care, I have made a lasting recovery. Life insurance companies had given me a 20-year life expectancy after the treatment, and according to Johns Hopkins Medical, " The median survival after [PNH] diagnosis is 10 years.." Well, at 53, I feel healthier than ever and would like to celebrate my blessings by raising money to help the sick and disadvantaged children and their families who desperately need our help. Make no mistake: finishing a 100 mile race (161 kilometers) is extremely painful and takes a lot of sacrifice in the preparations, but it pales in comparison to the long term suffering of an endangered child.

In Lebanon, access to healthcare and basic medication has become severely restricted, where economic collapse, hyperinflation, and a catastrophic mass explosion in Beirut have lead to medical care shortages and driven families to emotional and financial ruin, with record unemployment rates. The dollar today is worth 10 times what it used to be only 3 years ago in terms of local Lebanese currency, so each and every dollar counts! Without the support of family and friends I would have never made it. My family is thriving while those of my childhood communities are left to suffer with little hope. It's time to give back! Please help make every mile count. ALL funds raised will be donated to a handful of reputable and amazing charities working to help Lebanese children with severe access to health and wellness resources, namely , Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL)  , SESOBEL, and AL YOUNBOUH.

 

Photos from the supported charities:



Timeline of Personal Running Milestones (excluding triathlons): 5-Year Path from 4 miles to 100 miles...

March 25, 2022:  Greenbrier 100 Mile Endurance Run, Boonesboro MD [Time: +5 years, 1 month]. Cutoff times: 24 hours (silver buckle), 33 hours (bronze buckle), otherwise DNF (Did Not Finish). And no, there is no gold buckle. Please help me start the race without a DNF'd fundraiser! And wish me luck.


Photos from recent runs in Lebanon: