Alastair Farrugia was one of the participants in the 16th edition of the bike marathon held at the San Ġorġ Preca Lyceum in Ħamrun. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

The cyclists who yesterday headed to Ħamrun for the yearly charity marathon included a young man who suffers from a degenerative disease that attacks the central nervous system.

Alastair Farrugia has difficulty walking but managed to do 12 kilometres of cycling on a stationary bike.

He was keen to do his bit for the 16th edition of the San Ġorġ Preca Lyceum cycling marathon, a 50-hour event that raised funds for cardiac equipment in schools.

Dr Farrugia, 39, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about 10 years ago and uses a walking-aid, still exercises regularly and does six kilometres of cycling in less than half an hour.

“People suffer from various conditions, apart from MS, and this weekend I wanted to show solidarity with people who have cardiac issues.

“Fortunately, the muscles and nerves used for cycling are different from those used for walking, so, although I cannot walk a lot, I can still cycle,” the young man said, as other cyclists zoomed by in front of him in the schools’ grounds.

Last year the school collected funds to equip schools with an automated external defibrillator (AED), as well as providing students and teachers with basic first aid training.

Thanks to the €140,000 collected, 75 schools were given a defibrillator and this year, the organisers continued to raise funds to provide AEDs to other schools. With simple audio and visual commands, AEDs help the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm through the application of electrical therapy.

Fortunately, the muscles and nerves used for cycling are different from those used for walking, so, although I cannot walk a lot, I can still cycle

Automatic defibrillators can be used by anyone with first aid training and works by releasing an electric current to the chest area when a person’s heart stops during an attack.

Manwel Borg, teacher at the Lyceum and coordinator of the marathon, said this year the donations would fund defibrillators not just for schools but also for other children’s entities such as sports clubs, scout groups and oratories. The University of Malta and Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology have also applied to benefit from this project.

The marathon, which is registered as an NGO, received about 90 applications from interested entities and each AED pack, which includes training courses for teachers, costs more than €2,000.

Although donations could only be made by phone till yesterday, those who would still like to contribute can send a cheque addressed to Maratona Bir-Roti, Kulleġġ San Ġorġ Preca, Skola Sekondarja Subien (Il-Liċeo), Wenzu Mallia Street, Ħamrun ĦMR 1241.