ATHLETICS - A Bahrain resident from the Philippines has warmed hearts across the kingdom after completing a gruelling, 170-kilometre ultra-marathon with the aim of shining a light on animal welfare.
Michael Alfredo Faminial, a 37-year-old who has been living on the island for over 20 years, set out on his mission on Friday, June 6, and completed it two days later after months of arduous planning and preparation. He has now raised more than BD1,000 through this initiative, which he intends to disburse on a weekly basis to help organisations such as the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) and the Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre (BARC).
Faminial says that his sincere act of kindness was an idea he had been thinking of for some time, being a popular figure in Bahrain’s tight-knit community of avid runners.
“Running 170km across Bahrain has always been on my bucket list – a personal challenge I dreamed of conquering one day,” Faminial told the GDN in an exclusive interview.
“But this year, something deeper shifted – I found myself facing a quiet emptiness, a sense that even with everything seemingly in place, something was missing.
“That’s when I realised: doing what you love is good, but doing it with purpose is even better.”
Faminial got his big push to set out on his endurance challenge for a cause when his rescue cat of over a decade, named Snowy, passed away in May.
“For years, I’ve quietly supported animal welfare through small acts of kindness and charity initiatives with our triathlon club, but when my beloved Snowy passed away last month, her loss left a deep void,” explained Faminial, who works in a school. “In that moment of grief, I knew I needed to turn the pain into something meaningful.”
For Faminial, his physical challenge now became more worthwhile, and he was determined to make a lasting impact in more ways than one.
“This run became a mission of the heart – my goal was to raise awareness, ignite compassion, and encourage action for the thousands of stray animals in Bahrain who go unnoticed every day. I wanted every step I took to carry a message – that these animals matter, and that when we care enough to act, we can make a real difference.”
With the support of his family, close friends, and others who believed in his goal, Faminial set out on his campaign with the theme ‘170km for a cause. 170km for compassion. 170km for change.’
“Every BD1 donated would represent one kilometre,” he explained. “I was committed to completing the full 170km as it symbolised how far people were willing to journey with me in spirit.
“Each donation was a step taken together. And together, we didn’t just complete a run – we created a movement.”
When Faminial put the wheels into motion, he knew he needed to prepare diligently for what was to come. His training included back-to-back full marathons of 42.2km apiece in Bahrain and Riyadh in February, high-intensity gym sessions, and five-km night runs along Al Najma, plus a full-body medical check-up in March. In addition, he says he engaged in constant prayer and received plenty of backing from his loved ones.
“I expected pain – physical, mental, and emotional,” Faminial admitted. “I knew this challenge would push me further than anything I had ever attempted, but I also knew that when your ‘why’ is clear, your strength runs deeper than your training.
“I leaned heavily on my discipline, faith, family, and the cause that fuelled me – and that belief carried me through every gruelling step.”
He credits his wife Kay for being a driving force with him throughout his journey. “My wife was my anchor,” said the father-of-one.
“She meticulously prepared my meals, ensured I stuck to a clean and nourishing diet, and managed every behind-the-scenes detail.
“She gave me the freedom to focus while holding everything together with love.”
Faminial officially began his run on the afternoon of Friday, June 6, from Dragon City in Muharraq, and at the end of the day had already made his way to the Durrat Al Bahrain bridge, having covered the distance of one full marathon. After continuing to run through the night, he had reached Zallaq and completed 100km by midday on Saturday, June 7. That was when he and his team decided he should take his first major rest stop.
“My pace ranged between six to eight minutes per kilometre, and I walked only when absolutely necessary,” Faminial explained. “I stayed disciplined with fuelling – taking light snacks and energy gels, and hydrating consistently every 30 minutes.
“Every four hours, I paused for a heavier meal and a longer break.”
After resuming his run that early evening, he again ran throughout the night, and by midnight was headed into the home stretch for a final marathon distance. Faminial finally crossed his pre-determined finish line back at Dragon City at 9.26am on Sunday, June 8.
“Throughout the run, my mindset evolved,” he explained. “At the beginning, I was focused and eager. As the hours passed and exhaustion set in, I held tightly to my purpose – thinking about the animals, the people who believed in me, and the mission behind every step.
“By the final stretch, I was running not just with my legs, but with my heart. I wasn’t running alone – every step was lifted by prayers, encouragement, and the quiet power of a shared cause.” Faminial was astounded by the donations that started pouring in once he shared his campaign on social media the same night he kicked off his challenge.
“From Saturday and Sunday, contributions trickled in slowly but steadily, with heartfelt amounts ranging from BD1 to BD30,” he explained.
“After completing the full 170km, the momentum grew significantly.
“We initially set a symbolic goal of BD170 – one dinar for every kilometre I planned to run. But the support we received far exceeded expectations, and as of now, we’ve raised more than BD1,000.”
Faminial and his family have already made their first contribution to BSPCA and BARC, with more still to come.
“The funds will allow us to purchase over 80 bags of 20kg cat and dog food, which will be delivered in kind,” he said.
“This approach guarantees that the donations translate into immediate and meaningful relief for the stray animals that inspired this mission.”
Faminial is hopeful that his 170km challenge can make a relevant impact on animal welfare in Bahrain and act as an inspiration to others. “This run is an example of how ordinary people – with limited means but deep conviction – can do extraordinary things,” he said.
Faminial is still accepting donations until July 5. Those who would like to get involved can send their donations by Benefit to +973-39795808 or get in touch with Faminial on +973-38171791.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
The map of Faminial’s run
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