A number of local and foreign open water swimmers will be taking part in a challenging 5.5km swim from Gozo to Malta on 20 August.

A regular fixture in the annual calendar of events organised by Birkirkara St Joseph Club, the Gozo-Malta Open Water Swimming Competition will see these swimmers crossing from Ras il-Qala, which is the most eastern point in Gozo, to Marfa in the north of Malta.

The 5.5km swim is not for the fainthearted and participants are in the water for some 90 minutes on average.

Trophies will be awarded to the first three places in the male and female categories, and to the first male and female in the various other categories.

Like last year, leading NGO Inspire has been chosen by Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club as the main charity beneficiary of the Club’s club’s Gozo-Malta Open Water Swimming Competition, during which funds are raised by the participants.

Birkirkara St. Joseph swimmer Konrad Sultana, who managed to collect a whopping €560 from family, friends and colleagues in last year’s swim, says it was hugely satisfying to participate in the race and raise funds to help others:

“I consider the fundraising aspect as important as the swimming achievement so I make it a point to raise as much money as possible to help Inspire,” he says.

Inspire – The Foundation for Inclusion – helps over 1,000 children and adults with learning and physical disabilities across five centres in Malta and Gozo. The services and programmes address the educational, therapeutic, social and recreational needs of the people they help, with a focus on ability and potential.

“If the money I raise can help just one child, make a child happier and make their life easier, it gives me enough motivation and is incredibly rewarding.”

The Gozo-Malta swim had been a goal of for Mr Sultana since he was a child. He has been swimming for over two years and makes it a point to swim for over an hour at least three times a week all year round in order to prepare himself for the race.

If you have qualified to participate in the Gozo-Malta Open Water Swimming Competition 2011 visit Facebook page (Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club Gozo-Malta OpenWaterSwimmingChallenge2011) for the regulations. Visit also www.bkarastjoseph.com or www.inspire.org.mt.