BD’s ‘Ironman’ to help raise fund for children with special needs

Mohammed Shamsuzzaman Arafat, the first ‘Ironman’ of Bangladesh, shared his thoughts about the need of proper education and facilities for children with special needs when he attended a ‘Meet the press’ event, organized by BRAC, before starting for Malaysia to participate in the ‘Ironman Competition’ which is scheduled to begin on October 26.

During his stay in Malaysia Arafat will help BRAC establish a fund for children with special needs.

“Children with special needs are also assets of the society. With proper care, education and training they are also able to make valuable contribution to the national development,” said Arafat today.

Arafat won the ‘Ironman’ title twice -- in 2017 and 2019. He took 12:43:17 seconds to achieve Ironman Malaysia in 2017 and 12:14:43 seconds to achieve the title for the second time in European Championship Frankfurt 2019.

It requires for an athlete to complete a triathlon that involves swimming for 3.8 kilometers, riding cycle for 185 kilometers and running a full marathon for around 42 kilometers inside 15 hours to achieve the ‘Ironman’ title.