President of Malta George Vella, together with Mrs Vella, led the 12th edition of The President’s Solidarity Fun Run in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, in which a total of around 7,000 people took part.
Due to the restrictions in place to control the spread of the pandemic, this long-awaited event by the public this time took place in the form of a walk led by the mayors in 58 towns and villages around Malta and Gozo.
The President and Mrs Vella walked in their village of Żejtun together with Prime Minister Robert Abela and Leader of the Opposition Bernard Grech and their spouses, Archbishop of Malta Mgr Charles Scicluna, and the Mayor of Żejtun Doris Abela. Before the walk, a mass was celebrated by Mgr Scicluna at the parish church of Żejtun.
This year’s Fun Run came to an end with a mayors’ gathering at Sant’Anton Palace, during which the President presented them with a token of appreciation. President Vella thanked all those who volunteered to make this event possible despite the pandemic, particularly the local councils and Sport Malta. He also thanked all the people who responded eagerly to his call. The President said that, on this occasion, we saw the true character of the people of Malta, which is based on the spirit of solidarity and which is not reflected in the reprehensible behaviour such as that witnessed this week.
He called on the country’s leaders to set an example in order to foster unity among the people. “The people of Malta have an innate sense of solidarity and we want to be the ones to bring it out and make them express it and show it. When we leaders push the organisation of such activities, the people of Malta will automatically find unity in themselves. We must build on such events where one can clearly see that, when it comes to showing solidarity with the poor, when it comes to helping those in need due to illness, the people of Malta will not sit idle. He also highlighted that, throughout the year, the Community Chest Fund needs funds to deal with the demands for medicines related to cancer and other conditions and to help those facing difficult situations.
Participating Local Councils
Malta
Attard, Balzan, Birkirkara, Gżira, Iklin, Lija, Msida, Pieta', San Ġiljan, San Ġwann, Santa Venera, Sliema, Ta' Xbiex, Birżebbuġa, Għaxaq, Gudja, Hamrun, Kirkop, Luqa, Mqabba, Qormi, Qrendi, Safi, Santa Luċija, Siġġiewi, Żebbug, Żurrieq, Dingli, Mellieħa, Mġarr, Mtarfa, Naxxar, Pembroke, Rabat, San Pawl il-Baħar, Swieqi, Għargħur, Mosta, Birgu, Bormla, Fgura, Floriana, Isla, Kalkara, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Paola, Tarxien, Valletta, Xgħajra, Żabbar, Żejtun.
Gozo
Għajnsielem, Għarb, Munxar, Qala, Rabat, Sannat, Xagħra, Xewkija