Run to help others and ourselves

A record 11,000 runners, walkers and, in some cases, even their pets, joined President George Abela on his fun run yesterday, driven and united by common goals of charity and fitness.

We cannot only come first in obesity, so the event helps us while we help others

Among the participants was 33-year-old amputee, Noel Aquilina, who had his foot removed only six weeks ago due to a chronic bone infection that was spreading up his shin and threatening to be fatal.

Born with spina bifida, Mr Aquilina was totally undaunted by the seven-kilometre challenge from San Anton Palace to Valletta, which he covered on his wheelchair. Last year, he covered 318 kilometres in Sicily on his hand bike in three days.

He was also driven by the desire to help others, one of the two aims of the President’s Charity Fun Run, which attracted people from every walk of life and age, on wheelchairs, bikes, on foot, and all in high spirits.

Fr Patrick Magro, rector of St Aloysius College, gathered a group of 100 Sixth Formers and was also accompanied by his eight-year-old nephew, Luigi Buhagiar, who was confident he would make it to Valletta on his little legs.

Apart from loving to run, Fr Murgo said the event was a “big sign of solidarity with people in need, especially at Christmas” and he was pleased to combine the two.

Several dogs accompanied their owners. Their daily walks may not normally be that long, so the President’s run was a special treat and they had “even more energy for charity”.

Those who were not up for the run walked the five kilometres from Sta Venera instead, with everyone converging on a packed St George’s Square in Valletta to the sound of the band and sirens.

Since the initiative started three years ago, more physical activity on the roads has been noticed, the organisers said. “Those who tasted the joy of running during the fun run ended up getting hooked,” they said.

Just before he started his jog and after greeting applauding participants, Dr Abela expressed his excitement at the growing event, which has more than doubled the number of participants in its third edition.

The fun run was televised live on three stations, which encouraged more to join, the President felt.

“People are becoming more health conscious. We cannot only come first in obesity, so the event helps us while we help others too,” he said, appealing to people of any age to start walking and gradually pick up the pace.

Each participant paid €10 and the amount was doubled by the sponsor, Banif Bank, while €10,000 and €1,000 were donated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat respectively.

Dr Abela said the event, organised by Malta Community Chest Fund in collaboration with the Health Ministry and Athletics Malta, was just the warm-up to the next appointment in the fund-raising marathon, which is being held next Sunday at Paqpaqli għall-Istrina in the Ħal Farruġ area of Malta International Airport.