294km in 168 hours: Luca Zarb completes seven marathons in seven days in aid of Hospice Malta

The SevenxSeven campaign came to a close on Friday at around 1pm as 29-year old Luca Zarb crossed the finish line at Golden Bay, completing his seventh marathon in seven days.Zarb took on the challenge to raise funds for Hospice Malta.The 29-year old

By: independent.com.mt

Dec 27 2024
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294km in 168 hours: Luca Zarb

The SevenxSeven campaign came to a close on Friday at around 1pm as 29-year old Luca Zarb crossed the finish line at Golden Bay, completing his seventh marathon in seven days.

Zarb took on the challenge to raise funds for Hospice Malta.

The 29-year old architect-athlete completed a total of 294km during the seven marathons, crossing the final finish line on Friday at Golden Bay, where he was greeted by loved ones, some of whom took time off work to see him complete his feat, holding a personalized banner and popping champagne.

Supporters had been following the young athlete's progress throughout the SevenxSeven Campaign online via a tracker and a WhatsApp update group. The charitable feat of endurance was the first of its kind for Zarb and, long-distance aside, presented the additional challenge of balancing daily life with long hours of training.

Zarb kicked-off his SevenxSeven Campaign, after months of training, motivated by his wish to give back to Hospice Malta and raise €10,000 for the non-profit palliative care organization, which will go towards the maintenance of Hospice Malta's St. Michael's facility in Santa Venera, where specialised care is offered under one roof. Apart from financial support, the SevenxSeven Campaign also strives to raise awareness about the vital role Hospice Malta plays in the community.

This challenge was personal for Zarb, who saw Hospice Malta's invaluable work, providing palliative care and emotional support to patients and their loved ones, firsthand when Hospice provided support for his uncle up until he succumbed to his cancer in 2018. Looking past his grief, Zarb had found Hospice's care for his uncle "humbling and inspiring."

In high spirits and remarkably full of energy, Zarb was lost for words on completion of the marathon. So much so, when asked how he felt following his 7-day, 294km feat could only answer that he felt good. He expressed awe at what he managed to achieve with the help of his supporters, friends and loved ones.

The final, total sum Zarb collected in aid of Hospice Malta will be announced later.