Final preparations for the 19th Malta Volleyball Marathon, which kicks off on Monday, are underway.

More than 1,600 volunteers have been working tirelessly for months to organise the event, which will raise money for Dar tal-Providenza, the Ursuline Creche in Sliema and Lourdes Home in Gozo. Organised by the Kerygma Movement, the marathon is held every summer.

Kerygma director general Charles Fenech, OP, said that in a message to Kerygma, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said an activity like the marathon was in the spirit of the Olympic games and had a noble cause.

Asked whether there were any plans to diversify in coming years and choose another sport apart from volleyball, Fr Fenech explained that volleyball was chosen because it was a no-contact game and the number of injuries were fewer than in other games. However, he did not exclude the possibility that there would be new games in the future.

George Abela, chairman of the National Campaign Solidarity Through Sport, as the Kerygma activity is called, said that last year 90,000 people had attended the marathon and he expressed hope that this year the 100,000 mark would be reached.

For the fourth time running, the marathon is being held at the Trade Fair Grounds, in Naxxar. This is also the fourth year that Go Mobile is the main sponsor of the marathon.

Last year the marathon, which ran for 241 hours, raised Lm235,274.