Running for Unity: Dr. Solomon Ghide, 67, Runs the Houston Marathon for Eritreans with Disabilities

By Amanuel Biedemariam January 9/2026

There is a quiet irony at the heart of Dr. Solomon Ghide’s journey.

What began as a personal commitment—to age with strength, discipline, and health—has become a force that reshaped not only his own life, but the lives of his children. A father’s resolve, supported by his own parents and grounded in service, has now come full circle—transforming the next generation.

Dr. Ghide, an infectious disease internist with more than 35 years of experience in medicine, spent his professional life caring for others. A graduate of Addis Ababa University (1988) and affiliated with Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital in Texas, he understood long before most that longevity without health is not a gift.

Retirement, for him, was not withdrawal. It was recalibration.

Choosing Strength—And Becoming an Example

At 65, when many begin to accept decline as natural, Dr. Ghide chose intention instead. He committed himself to physical fitness not for accolades, but for stewardship of the body—believing that aging is inevitable, but aging poorly is not. That decision changed everything.

Now 67, he has completed five full marathons and an IRONMAN triathlon—170.4 miles finished in 15 hours and 45 minutes. He is quick to say this is not the result of extraordinary genetics, but of consistency, humility, and respect for one’s limits.

Yet the most meaningful impact of that choice was not measured in miles.It was measured in influence.

The Summit That Became a Turning Point

In 2023, Dr. Ghide stood atop Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. Beside him stood his son Melaki, just 21 years old at the time.

Together, they raised a banner bearing a simple message: “ኣይንፈላለ” — we must remain united and never disintegrate.

It was not a symbolic gesture for the camera. It was a lesson—lived, not spoken. A father modeling endurance. A son witnessing what discipline, support, and belief can produce. That climb marked a transformation.

When the Example Becomes the Path

The irony is unmistakable:
Dr. Ghide’s journey—rooted in his own parents’ support and values—has now inspired his children to claim their own.

His oldest son, Amaha, now runs marathons alongside him. What began as encouragement became shared discipline. What began as observation became participation.

Melaki, the son who climbed Kilimanjaro with him, found in that ascent not only physical strength, but direction.

And the youngest, Yatana, is preparing to join them—drawn not by pressure, but by example.

This is not a story of a father pulling his children forward.
It is the story of children rising to meet a standard quietly set.

Running With Meaning: Houston Marathon

On January 11, 2026, Dr. Ghide will line up at the starting line of the Houston Marathon—not to chase a personal record, but to serve a cause larger than himself.

He is running to support HabenEri Inc., a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting Eritreans living with disabilities—many of them survivors of war and long-term hardship.

While injuries cannot be undone, dignity can be restored. Lives can be eased. Futures can be strengthened.

Through colleagues, friends, and community members, Dr. Ghide has already helped raise nearly $20,000. This marathon is not simply another race—it is a renewed call to awareness and shared responsibility.

“No amount is too small,” he says. “When we each give what we can, we reduce someone else’s burden. That gives meaning to the effort.”

More Than Endurance

This story is not ultimately about athletics.

It is about how values travel across generations.
About how discipline, when lived consistently, becomes contagious.
About how a father’s quiet commitment—supported by his own roots—can shape not just children, but legacy.

From the heights of Kilimanjaro to the streets of Houston, the message remains the same: unity matters, health matters, and giving back is not optional—it is responsibility.

As the Eritrean wisdom reminds us, endurance is not merely surviving hardship—but emerging from it with purpose intact.

How to Support

Dr. Ghide is running to support HabenEri Inc.

To contribute:

• Zelle / PayPal: 470-559-2936 or banking@habeneri.org
• Cash App / Venmo: @habeneri
• Credit / Debit Cards: https://habeneri.org

Please include your phone number for a tax-deduction receipt and write “Houston Marathon” in the message box.

ዕድመ፣ ጥዕና፣ ፍቕርን ሰላምን ኣብ ኩልና ይሃልወና።

Some people run to finish a race.
Others run to shape those who follow.
Dr. Solomon Ghide does both.

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