Nine ironmen for charity race

Nine Maltese athletes will be pushing their bodies to the limit by swimming, cycling and running for over 200 kilometres to raise funds for Inspire Foundation. The athletes, who include two women, will be taking part in the Ironman triathlon race to be held in Austria on July 5.

The athletes have been in training for the challenging race for the past six months. It will include a 3.8-kilometre swim, a 180-kilometre cycle and a 42-kilometre run.

Funds collected will go towards Inspire Foundation - a merger of the Eden Foundation and Razzett tal-Ħbiberija - which helps more than 1,000 children and adults with learning and physical disabilities.

Inspire chief executive officer Nathan Farrugia said the funds would be directed into the foundation's adapted sports programme with the ultimate goal of helping disabled athletes compete during the London Paralympics in 2012.

"Sports help disabled people through character development as well as helping them gain the confidence to overcome the obstacles they face on a daily basis," Mr Farrugia said.

The event is being supported by the Malta Sports Council and is sponsored by Interwetten, KMS and Hertz.

Anyone wishing to donate money can do so by going to www.simplygiving.org.mt.