As the feast of St Nicholas, in whose name presents are given to children at Christmas time, was being celebrated in Siġġiewi, a record number of 11,000 people from all walks of life flocked to Attard and Santa Venera for the President’s charity fun run and walk.

Those who wished to walk met outside Casa Leone in Santa Venera with the President’s wife Margaret, the prime minister and the opposition leader while those running met President Abela and Health Minister Joe Cassar outside San Anton, in the bright sunshine. The pistol started the event at 10am.

Everyone was united in aim; to have fun, meet friends, exercise and act in solidarity with others. Each participant donated €10.

The faster ones started to arrive at The Presidential Palace in Valletta, just after 10.30am. In short comments outside The Palace at St George’s Square, following his arrival, President George Abela said this was “the warm-up for the real run – l-Istrina, on 26 December”.

“Grazzi mill- Qalb!” he added as the crowd cheered. “We’ll see you all at Verdala.”

He was also very happy that a record number of persons had registered their participation in the third edition of this event.

Besides raising funds for l-Istrina, the idea behind the fun run or walk is to promote health and fitness.

Water, apples and pears were given out to the people in purple t-shirts who arrived in Valletta.

“We don’t only come first in obesity but also in fitness,” Dr Abela stated.

Over 5,000 people were said to have participated two years ago, in the first edition of the event and some 8,000 people registered last year. Their enthusiasm seems to have affected many others who decided not to miss the fun this year.

The attendance was overwhelming and some participants who registered on the day were asked to collect their t-shirts in a couple of weeks because the Fun Run organisers had run out, participants reported.

In Santa Venera, the Scouts accompanied the mass of people while in Hamrun and Valletta, bands played cheerful music as people walked or ran past. Purple and pink balloons were thrown from windows along with strips of shredded paper.

In Floriana, Father Christmas and Mother Christmas joined in the fun.

The Armed Forces of Malta helicopter hovering above people and cameras filming the crowds for live television broadcasts also added to the atmosphere.

To avoid confusion, things were organized in a way that people who left Santa Venera arrived in Valletta first and runners joined the crowds that had somewhat settled, sometime later as many clapped and cheered.

Political parties held no activities in support of the event and several Members of Parliament, as well as the Children’s Commissioner, also participated.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi presented the President with a €10,000 cheque and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat presented a €1,000 donation.

Dr Muscat congratulated the President for uniting the people in another event.

Banif Bank was the main sponsor of the fun run.

l-strina campaign continues on Sunday with Paqpaqli ghall-Istrina, the popular car show at the Hal Farrug side of the Malta International Airport.

Further information on the events being organised in aid of l-Istrina is available on: http://maltacommunitychestfund.org/Pages/Strina2011.aspx