Watch: Zach Vella completes 360km run for the homeless, raises €32,000
Vella completed his final 60km on New Year's Eve at Mġarr’s parish church
Updated 7.45pm
After six days on the road and hundreds of kilometres in his legs, ultra-runner Zach Vella arrived at Mġarr’s parish church on New Year’s Eve, completing his 360-kilometre challenge for charity.
Vella's feat helped raise €32,000 for homeless people, surpassing his target of €20,000.
Despite being fatigued and suffering an ankle injury, Vella finished with a smile, surrounded by runners to a chorus of cheers and a truck horn.
Vella was visibly exhausted but in high spirits as he embraced his loved ones and finally sat down to rest. His friends popped open bottles of champagne and passed around pastizzi and sausage rolls for everyone to enjoy.
The six-day endurance run was organised in support of NGO YMCA Malta, which works with people experiencing homelessness across the island.
Each day, Vella ran 60 kilometres, with short breaks roughly every 10 kilometres. The route varied from day to day, and for the final day, Vella ran six 10-kilometre loops starting and ending at the church. For the final 10 kilometres, he was joined by around 20 runners.
Zach Vella among his team and runners prior to the final 10km stretch. Photo: Matthew MirabelliSpeaking to Times of Malta at the start of his final loop, Vella was chatty and in good spirits as he faced the last stretch of the challenge.
“I’d just like to get it done now. I have a bit of pain, but this challenge has exceeded my expectations - the community support, people getting behind YMCA, and others talking and asking questions about homelessness in Malta,” he said.
Throughout the six days, Vella never ran alone, with at least one runner accompanying him at all times. Participants ranged from novice runners to more experienced athletes.
“When I came here at 7am, there was thunder, but there were still quite a lot of people. I like to think I have the willpower, but I couldn’t do it without the help of others,” he said.
When asked why he chose to take on this challenge, Vella said that these challenges are a “really good medium” to discuss certain topics.
Vella also hinted at a future challenge, saying he ran 60 kilometres a day as he has “something else planned.”.
The face of relief. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
The final stretch. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Vella was keen to acknowledge the many people who joined him along the way and the distances they covered in support.
These included Rose Marie and Taran Gambin, who completed their first 60-kilometre run. Daniel Micallef Borg also completed a 60-kilometre run and an additional 30 kilometres on another day. Therese Borg meanwhile, completed her first 40 kilometres.
To help him recover and keep going, Stride Physiotherapy provided daily treatment throughout the challenge.
All funds raised from the challenge will go towards supporting the work of YMCA Malta, and members of the public are encouraged to donate.