The Covid-19 situation hit voluntary organisations and NGOs hard, limiting the way they can raise funds.

Add to that people working reduced hours, some losing jobs, and many focusing on themselves and their immediate family, this creates a worrying situation for those who are in need and have no choice but to rely on the kindness of others. It has also been hard on NGOs fighting for good causes, and organisations that look after Malta’s heritage sites keeping them in good condition, as they also have been unable to raise enough funds.

The Maltese people have always been generous. One can take a look at the L-Istrina marathon year on year as an example of just how much people are willing to donate. Others donate their time, such as the many people who have fought to protect Malta’s environment.

Take Neil Agius for example, a champion environmentalist after his recent feat, swimming from Malta to Sicily to raise awareness about plastic in our seas. Agius completed the epic 95km swim between Sicily and Malta, where he became the second person in recorded history to swim between Sicily and Malta. He arrived after swimming for 28 hours, seven minutes and 27 seconds.

Then came two Maltese ultra-runners, Claudio Camilleri and Patrick Tabone, who ran 190km around the coast of Malta and Gozo. Their goal was to raise €15,000 towards the Jesuit Refugee Service and Kopin, two NGOs who designed the Education Support Programme for migrants. They ran the route in 35 hours and raised €40,000 to help fund migrants’ access to education.

Indeed finding ways that promote healthy activity while raising funds for good causes are positive stories in the present Covid-19 world. It not only encourages people to get out there and challenge themselves, but helps raise awareness about issues and raises funds for organisations that need them.

The Victory Kitchen is now organising a fundraising event in September. It involves a swim starting from Ċirkewwa, going around Comino, up to Gozo and going back to Ċirkewwa, covering a total of 15.1km. “The exact date and starting location will be confirmed later on, depending on weather conditions.”

Malta has an obesity problem. With the amount of junk food people eat this comes as no surprise. Perhaps creating such events to raise funds will help in this regard, and such moves should be promoted as much as possible.

Of course not everyone can take on such feats, but there are things people can do. Find your strengths and find creative ways to help the good causes you believe in. Instead of just donating to a good cause, why not approach an organisation and try and raise funds for them through other means like a sponsored walk for example. Organisations themselves should also start thinking outside the box and use the aforementioned events as great examples of how to raise funds during this trying period, and try to come up with events which could involve people, while ensuring social distancing regulations are followed.