Pembroke Athleta officially launched the 18th edition of the popular road events which breed the love of athletics among the children, youth and many new adult converts that together converge in large numbers to this annual spring festival of sport.

Victor Camilleri, president of the club, said the events will take place on Sunday 1 April.

He added: “I must admit that although 18 years ago, the organising committee had in mind to establish a 10km race in and around Pembroke and Swieqi for the many enthusiasts taking up long distance running, this event has evolved into much more.

“It can easily be said that this is now a family event, centred more and more on the participation of youngsters, hopefully to instill a love of sport and to make athletics their sport for life, a sport which they can really enjoy for many, many years.”

He also revealed that there will be an innovation this year. It is a new event which has been named the Vee Gee Bee 7km Walkathon. Through this event a participant can walk the distance or also walk a bit, run a bit, and in fact, do whatever the body allows.

In other words this is a Fun event for adults, as much as the 1,200m is the Fun Run for the children.

He added that at 8.30am, along with the main race over 10 kilometres, there will be start of the 5km race sponsored by Kyocera Mita as well as the Walkathon. Then at 10am there will be the start the series of 1,200m Fun events that are by now very familiar with families who bring their children to Pembroke year after year.

Last year when the total count of participants exceeded 1,300 entries with 170 men and women participating in the 10km alone, which for the Pembroke races was a record.

The increased interest in participation for the 5km race proves once again that the club’s philosophy is wise and reaps dividends. This is perhaps more manifest in the next event of this family day, the Fun Run courtesy of MilkyBar.

Continuing a tradition, the many children and their accompanying parents and adults are first entertained in an area off the main road adjacent to William Harding Street, down the road from the Clubhouse.

Camilleri went on to thank the Pembroke Council as well as the Swieqi Council, through the provision of Local Wardens, the Traffic Police and other Police officers and Transport Malta.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is again giving its whole-hearted support, in recognition of the values being sown among the younger generations. Camilelri added that the success of the event would not be complete if the Club had to omit the medical staff, the Red Cross Ambulance Service and the invaluable assistance given by parents and other helpers, most of whom provide a service as race marshals.

The last events of the morning will be over a 3 kilometre route and they will be for the cadet and youth categories, which include children born between 1997 and 2000. These events are sponsored by Nike Urban Jungle Street Stores.

All finishers in all the races will be presented with a medal, a bag full of delights donated by various sponsors, a colourful wall poster and a tee shirt. A certificate of participation will be sent by post at a later date.

With the exception of the Fun Run there will be trophies for the top finishers in all the races. In the 10km the first six shall receive a trophy, as will the first in the five-year age-graded categories starting with athletes 35 years or over on the day.

Other trophies will go to the first finishers in the 5km race, male and female, from among the over 20 years category, those born in 1993 or 1994 and from the group born 1995 or 1996.

Then the first in the 3km event in the cadet and youth categories as well as the first in the 7km walkathon shall all be awarded trophies. Naturally all prizes will be repeated for the first female finishers.

Cash vouchers will also be awarded to the first three males and the first three winners of the main 10km race. Besides the first male and first female in the 10km will also receive a six-month membership courtesy of the Reflex Fitness Centre courtesy of the Radisson Blu Resort while the first residents from Pembroke and Swieqi in the 10km event as well as in the Fun run, will receive special trophies from their respective Local Councils. Finally, the Club will be presenting a trophy and a commemorative shield for the highest entry from any one school, to be kept for a year.