Well Done Champ! Julian Bajada Conquers 28km Of Non-Stop Rowing, Raising €43,000 For Paralympics
An inspirational Maltese athlete has just raised tens of thousands in aid after rowing 28km on an indoor machine as crowds cheered him on.
“28km conquered and a little piece of history written, becoming the first Maltese Paralympic Rower to hit the distance, completing the challenge in two hours, 23 minutes and 33 seconds,” Julian Bajada posted after his feat.
“€43,750 raised in aid of Malta Paralympic Committee – the work starts now to make Paralympic Rowing in Malta a reality together with Siggiewi Rowing Club.”
Bajada went on to thank everyone who showed him support as well as his sponsors, and saying: “we will be back for more. We will take Paralympic sport to new heights.”
He started the challenge at 6pm yesterday evening in Intersport store in Piazzetta, Sliema – and to celebrate his 28th birthday, to boot.
The distance was the longest distance ever rowed by a paralympic athlete to raise funds for one cause, with the length amounting to the distance between Mellieħa and Sliema.
“I’m doing this because I’m turning 28 years old and I wanted to celebrate,” Julian had said before the big evening, and after 28 days of awareness.
Social media was full of posts praising the Maltese athlete’s courage and determination.
By rowing the distance, Julian will also raise awareness about what it truly means to be a paralympic athlete. Through it, he will call upon other athletes with disabilities to take their first steps in the world of sports.
“Paralympic Sport has the power to change lives,” he said. “Not only for individuals with physical impairments to help them believe in their own abilities and reach new heights, but for society to embrace the paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration, and equality.”
“I’m rowing with a hand-and-a-half, so it’s quite a challenge.”
The fundraiser is part of a month-long campaign, launched on 1st June, to help the Malta Paralympic Committee (MPC) kickstart a program that would see ‘paralympic rowing’ become a reality in Malta.
A lawyer by profession, Julian is a renowned swimmer in Malta’s paralympic scene, having taken to the sport as a teenager. He is no stranger to superhuman feats, having completed a Gozo to Malta open water swim in 2015. Today, he is also a diehard national and international athlete.
To make this dream a reality, the MPC partnered with Siġġiewi Rowing club, the latter of whom will provide coaches, build training facilities and invest in training camps and events over the next two years.
If you want to be a part of this challenge, you can support the initiative by helping them raise funds for the cause. Donations may be made online via the online donation links on the challenge page – https://www.maltapara.com/rowingchallenge2022 or via bank transfer to IBAN MT05VALL22013000000040025857696.
The funds’ beneficiary will be the MPC, a non-profit registered voluntary organisation and a member of the International Paralympic Committee.
Find out more about Julian Bajada in our feature below:
Cover photo left: Kurt Farrugia
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