Dr Fenech Adami issued a message to the movement as a sign of his support as head of state towards the National Campaign for Solidarity through Sports.

The campaign has become a yearly appointment for all those who have sports and volunteering at heart, he said, adding that it sent an important message that Maltese youths care about their surroundings and that they are ready to lend a hand to improve society.

“With the theme chosen this year, The environment, the movement is challenging people to take care of the common patrimony. We react strongly when someone does not respect our property but often do not act the same way when it comes to the environment, and we often turn a blind eye to other people’s abuse, that is if we ourselves are not the perpetrators of the abuse.”

The definition of the word “environment” has changed considerably over the years, Dr Fenech Adami said; up until recently the term was taken to mean fields and the countryside, nowadays it is given a broader meaning and is taken to signify our surroundings in general, he added.

Taking this definition, the President continued, it can be said that all of our actions impinge on the environment, “which is why we have to avoid those actions that may have an irreparable damaging effect on the environment,” he said.

In this connection, he said we also have to strive to remedy the harm we may have caused in the past. “This is the challenge that the Kerygma Movement is placing on us all this year, the second challenge is to be able to collect more money for the Dar tal-Providenza and other organisations that need our help.”

Concluding, the President gave his best wishes to all those taking part in the event, saying that as he had done in previous years in a different capacity he hoped he would have the opportunity to meet everyone during the marathon.