Former Romanian polo player Mihai Badea will swim between July 17 - 20 a 72-hour non-stop race, and will be accompanied in the second night of the challenge by Slovenian multiple world record holder Martin Strel. Organized for the first time in Romania, on the Siderurgic Canal in Calarasi, the event is a charitable fundraiser for children with special needs.

52-year-old Mihai Badea, a former polo player and experienced endurance swimmer, declared on Wednesday in a press conference that the money raised from donations to this action will be used to build the 'Fir Tree CID Home' in Zarnesti, Brasov County, a holiday and recovery center for children with special needs or coming from disadvantaged families.

'Martin Strel has been my idol ever since the beginning of my open water swimming career. The fact that he is here, by my side, is a great honor and I thank him. I greatly appreciate the fact that he came to Romania and will help me complete this 72-hour race. This is not about hitting a record, but about my desire to send out a simple and clear message, not necessarily about building a house for these children, but about building unity around this house, this cause. It is very important that we gather as many people as possible for this noble purpose. This race is about people who put their soul into building this house among the fir trees. It is not a mere building, it is a house with a lot of hope and faith. So I invite you to join us and lend a helping hand by sending an SMS to 8844 with the text 'days'. The more of us there are, the higher the chance for this dream to turn to reality,' said the Romanian athlete.

70-year-old marathon swimmer Martin Strel, known as the Big River Man and holder of 5 Guinness records for swimming the Amazon, Mississippi, Yangtze and Danube, participates for the first time in a race in Romania. He said that he was moved by Mihai Badea's dedication to supporting this humanitarian cause.

He said that he will join Badea in the water on the second night, and will attempt to swim 12 hours straight. As the setter of a world record for the longest continual swim - 84 hours, he said that the second night was extremely hard for him, but humorously remarked that he is is still alive, despite swimming the Amazon, the most dangerous river in the world.

Strel explained that over time he had the opportunity to meet several great Romanian athletes such as Nadia Comaneci, Ion Tiriac, Ilie Nastase, Gheorghe Hagi and Gabriela Szabo.

Present at the press conference, ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Romania Robert Kokalj declared that the charitable commitment of this race is proof of the friendship between the two nations.

Slovenia has the highest number of extreme endurance athletes per capita in the world, the diplomat said, stressing that Martin Strel is a central figure in such sporting events, and his achievements have not yet been equaled. 'I have known Martin Strel for 25 years and ever since he has been a role model for me, through his endurance and successes. That is why I am very proud that Martin Strel, together with Mihai Badea and other athletes will participate in this event, swimming non-stop for 72 hours, the ambassador said, stressing that this charitable commitment is a testament to the compassion, resilience and friendship between the two nations.

Organized by the Children in Distress Foundation - CID, under the High Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maria of Romania, the 72 Roundtrip Swim event marks a unique charitable initiative in Romania: 72 hours of uninterrupted, solidarity swimming on the Siderurgic Canal in Calarasi, between July 17 - 20 to raise funds for the construction of the Fir Tree House in Zarnesti, Brasov County, the first holiday center in Romania for children with serious diagnoses or coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Apart from Mihai Badea and Martin Strel, participating in the race will be athletes Bogdan Zurbagiu, Cameliu Costache, Alex Nicoara and Robert Vasiliu, as well as more than 70 young athletes who have joined the humanitarian cause and will each swim one kilometer. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Marius Tone; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)