We always say that we don’t elaborate on words, but rather we walk the walk, and today this is exactly what we are doing," a beaming Mai Zein El-Din says as she took to the podium before taking a step back to bring forward her amazing staff.
Mai is a shining example of an extraordinary lady who refused to be defined by a tragedy.
Three years ago, after her son Hassan had an accident that saw him confined to a wheelchair, after which she was determined to see changes in how Egypt accomodates people in such situations.
She founded Al-Hassan Foundation for the Inclusion of Differently-abled People.
Over the course of three years, the foundation opened multiple doors and provided endless possibilities for people confined to wheelchairs and others whom they refer to as "differently-abled."
On 3 December, World Disability Day, the positive connotation of the term "differently-abled" was clearly demonstrated in Cairo, where the country's largest gathering of wheelchaired persons assembled in an event at Zamalek's Gezira Youth Centre.
The event was attended by officials from the ministries of social solidarity and youth and sports, who collaborated with Al-Hassan Foundation and the country's leading running community, Cairo Runners, to showcase an array of amazing people who overcame hurdles and challenged perceptions of people with disabilities in Egypt.
"I am so happy that this event is taking place, and I will be at the head of the runners today," a smiling Malak, one of the participants, told Ahram Online as she was getting ready to line up for the first-ever run dedicated to wheelers in Egypt.
