Updated - Maltese athletes to help in NY relief efforts after marathon disappointment

Athletes Nathan and Deirdre Farrugia, who have travelled to New York for the famous marathon,  have put their names down to help with the relief plans with American Red Cross next week. The couple expressed disappointment yesterday when the marathon they had been training for since April was cancelled in the 11th hour in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.  After a fretful few days watching the storm batter America’s Eastern Seaboard on TV, the Farrugias arrived in New York on Thursday night after city mayor Michael Bloomberg assured participants the race would go ahead. But on Friday, the mayor and organiser issued a joint statement saying the marathon was cancelled because they did “not want a cloud to hang over the race or its participants.” Inspire chief executive Mr Farrugia is well-known for charity fundraising endurance feats, but this would have been his wife’s first full marathon, just days after her 40th birthday. “We understand their reasons but they should have cancelled it earlier instead of waiting for thousands of runners to arrive from all over the world,” said Mr Farrugia. Like countless other participants, the super-fit Farrugias had booked time off work,...