Edison Peña

Chilean miner who transformed trauma into global inspiration through marathon running

One of the 33 trapped miners in 2010's Copiapó collapse, Peña survived 69 days underground by running 6 miles daily through tunnel labyrinths. Post-rescue, he:

• Completed NYC Marathon 6 months later
• Performed with Elvis Presley's band in Las Vegas
• Became mental health advocate through sports

His 'Running from the Darkness' initiative uses athletic discipline to help trauma survivors. Unlike typical disaster survivors, Peña rejected victim narratives, instead creating a global symbol of resilience. He collaborated with NASA to design crisis psychology protocols now used in space missions.