Bicycle marathon in aid of charity

The Dun Guzepp Zammit Brighella Junior Lyceum in Hamrun will be holding a 50-hour bicycle marathon at the school grounds between March 24 and 26.

The marathon is being held in aid of the Dar tal-Providenza and the Muscular Dystrophy Group. It is organised by the Lyceum and the Association of Lyceum Past Students (Hamrun).

The cyclists will arrive at the school on March 24 after cycling from Sliema at 12.30 p.m. President Eddie Fenech Adami will then officially open the marathon.

There will be a variety show featuring singers and artists every evening; a static show by the Ferrari Club (Malta), old cars and motorcycles, and the American Auto Club (Malta) on March 26 in the morning, and various other exhibitions and displays.

The theme of the marathon is From Children To Children and its aims include the fostering in students of a sense of solidarity towards youngsters in need.

The funds for Dar tal-Providenza will be going towards the refurbishment of Villa Papa Luciani. However, the first Lm4,000 collected will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Group to settle the remaining bank loan on a van that was presented to the group.

The van was presented by Mary Fenech Adami, the chairman of the Malta Community Chest Fund, and Tony Caruana Smith, the Lyceum's head teacher and the Bike Marathon chairman.

Donations can be made at HSCB account 023140569050, or Bank of Valletta account 40012585201. Donations of Lm2 can be sent via SMS on 5061 8070. Cheques should be addressed to Maratona bir-Roti '06 Liceo.

The first two editions of the marathon, in 1994 and 1995, raised more than Lm8,000 in aid of Caritas. The third and fourth, in the following two years, raised more than Lm19,000 in aid of I.B.I.C. (Malta) which caters for brain injured children.

In 2004, a cheque for over Lm10,000 was presented to the President, on behalf of the Community Chest Fund, in aid of children suffering from cancer. Last year, the Lyceum donated another Lm10,000 - Lm7,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Group, Lm2,000 to the Equal Partners' Foundation and Lm500 each to the St Francis de Paule Institute in Birkirkara and St Theresa Institute of Zurrieq.

The marathon was not held between 1998 and 2003.