The l-Istrina marathon has become a yearly event that has gained a certain momentum that we would not like to stop, said President Edward Fenech Adami yesterday during the presentation of star prizes in connection with the fund-raising campaign.

The President pointed out that, as in the past, the Community Chest Fund (CCF) will be receiving half the donations given during the 12-hour fund-raising marathon that will be broadcast on TVM, One TV and NET TV.

This year, said President Fenech Adami, the CCF had distributed over Lm400,000 to 3,000 individuals and organisations. He added that over Lm250,000 in prizes has already been donated to l-Istrina and appealed to the public to be generous, “as the Maltese have always been.”

The star prizes, nine Kia cars, were

presented to President Fenech Adami yesterday in Saint George’s Square after they processed along Republic Street from Freedom Square.

The cars were parked on display while the Police Band played and as the President and Mrs Fenech Adami walked out of the Palace, the band gave the president the National Salute.