This is why her presence at the Bhutan International Marathon carries such meaning.

Our marathon is not designed to be easy. It moves through valleys and along rivers before gradually rising toward the mountains. The course demands patience and humility. The climbs test the lungs. The distance tests the mind. Yet this is precisely where the beauty lies. In Bhutan, ascent is not just physical. It is symbolic. Our landscape teaches us resilience. Our philosophy reminds us that happiness is not something handed to us. It is something cultivated through perseverance, balance, and inner strength.

This year’s theme, The Ascent of Happiness, is more than a phrase. It is a reflection of who we are and what this marathon represents. Happiness is discovered in the climb. It is found when the legs grow heavy but the heart grows stronger. It appears in the shared encouragement between runners, in the smiles from communities along the route, and in the quiet realization that we are capable of more than we once believed.

Leong Wai Leng’s life embodies this ascent. Her happiness was not given to her without struggle. She climbed toward it step by step through recovery, through rebuilding her body, through confronting fear and choosing hope. When she runs in Bhutan, she will not only be covering distance. She will be continuing her personal ascent, inspiring others to begin theirs.

For survivors watching from afar, she represents hope. For fellow runners standing beside her at the starting line, she represents courage. For all of us, she is a reminder that the greatest victories are often the ones fought in silence.