Generous athlete plans record-breaking feat in aid of charity

Completing 13 Iron Man triathlons has emboldened swimmer Nicky Farrugia to test his mettle in truly gruelling endurance events in aid of charity.

Mr Farrugia will be taking part in the Enduroman Arch to Arc next month, a solo challenge that tests the body and mind of the most experienced athletes, to raise money for Dar tal-Providenza and Inspire (the Eden and Razzett Foundation).

Taking part is not enough for Mr Farrugia and the 48-year-old athlete will also attempt to break a world record in the triathlon on June 18, which starts from Marble Arch in London and ends near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The last world record was set by British athlete Eddie Ette, who completed the feat in 81 hours and five minutes.

Mr Farrugia will run 140 kilometres from Marble Arch to Dover, swim 33 kilometres across the English Channel to the French coast and finally cycle 276 kilometres from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe.

Mr Farrugia always enjoyed a challenge. By the age of 13, he had made his first team debut with Sirens, in the first division of the national water polo league. Built for endurance, he raised eyebrows when he turned his attention to long-distance swimming. He wanted to be the first person in the world to swim from Sicily to Malta.

"As a child I would look out across the sea and would always dream of crossing it, over the horizon," he recalls.

Mr Farrugia has garnered more trophies and medals than people have socks. Described by his friends as gregarious, talkative, intuitive and a health freak, who lives on a diet of high protein, low carbohydrates and no smoking or alcohol, Mr Farrugia is a joker and a family man who enjoys staying home with his wife and three daughters.

People can support Mr Farrugia's world record attempt by sending a donation to the Inspire's HSBC account: 068-079821-050.