Hi, I’m Mihretu. Recently, I finished second at the Lok Sahaita Hope Marathon in Pakistan, competing alongside international athletes. As cameras flashed and national media gathered around me, I couldn’t help but think of how far I had come from a childhood marked by loss, hunger, and uncertainty to standing on a global stage, representing my country.

I lost both my parents at a young age and lived with my brother in a small village far from the city. I wasn’t allowed to go to school; instead, I stayed home and looked after sheep. Still, even then, I ran along village roads, chasing something I couldn’t yet name.

Once I moved to the city, life there was far from easy. I survived by collecting garbage and sometimes food from the Koshe dump site. Some mornings, I trained on an empty stomach. 

Running became my lifeline.

Things changed after I joined the International Samaritan scholarship program and started to receive school and food support. I’ve had the support I needed to help me succeed in my athletic pursuits.

Last December, when International Samaritan team members went with me to participate in my first full international marathon, their presence and support meant more than words can express.

Before the race, I warned them, half-joking but fully serious: “If you don’t see me among the first three spots, don’t bother bringing the flag up. You will know who will win and who will be out of the game 30 kilometers into the marathon.”

We prayed and thanked God before stepping out to the track. They reassured me that no matter the outcome, they believed in me. That day, I secured second place!

Once, I searched for food in the garbage. Today, I run with hope. Finishing second in Pakistan is not the end; it is only the beginning. This medal is proof that even the toughest beginnings can lead to extraordinary journeys.

Mihretu’s story has recently been written and illustrated in a new children’s book, Run, Miru, Run. The book takes place in 2012, the year he moved to the capital city, Addis Ababa, to run after his dreams.

Learn more or order your copy at intsam.org/books.