A 2013 Half Marathon participant proud of his medal and for having made his miles counts for Inspire.

If you want to run, run a mile. If you want a challenge, run a marathon and if you want to make a difference in someone’s life, run for Inspire – The Foundation for Inclusion.

Running or walking a marathon is no easy task.

Even the half marathon is a gruelling feat and certainly not for the faint hearted, but over the past few years, especially with the introduction of the walkathon, Malta has seen the number of marathon participants increase year on year.

Because of the exhausting and punishing distance that runners and walkers are to cover, many confront this challenge in aid of a cause that they believe in.

“People with disabilities face challenges all their lives,” explains Emma McEwen whose son is on the Autism Spectrum and attends a specialised programme at Inspire that helps him fulfill his potential.

“Running or even walking a marathon is hard work. The training is tiring and the distance is incredible, but when compared to the lifetime of hardships and challenges that people with disabilities have to face, the suffering is incomparable.

“To my mind fund-raising for such a good cause is the least we can do and I encourage everyone to lend a helping hand in which-ever way they can.”

This year, Inspire, has once again been chosen as the official charity of the Vodafone Malta Marathon.

Inspire is an NGO whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of persons with disabilities in Malta and Gozo.

On the days leading to the marathon on February 23 and on the day itself lots of generous Inspire volunteers, together with clients who attend programmes, lend a handing hand towards the organisation of the races by carry-ing out various tasks.

As the official charity of the Malta Marathon, Inspire gets a donation from the Malta Marathon Organising Committee from every runner’s and walker’s application fee.

However, runners and walkers usually opt to fund-raise more money in order to further help Inspire provide children and families with free or highly-subsidised services.

This year, well-known singer Gianluca Bezzina together with parents, employees and friends of the NGO will be running with the Inspire Team.

“Inspire requires almost €3 million every year to keep offering the services it does today,” Nathan Farrugia, Inspire’s CEO and an avid marathon runner himself, said.

“We depend on voluntary giving, volunteering and social enterprise to continue to provide support to those in need, and to make a difference in the lives of the people we help.”

Last year alone, Inspire provided 55,000 hours of educational sittings, 15,300 hours of therapeutic exercises, 5,400 multi-sensory therapy sessions, and 4,200 therapeutic horse riding sessions.

Inspire also continues to fight for the rights of people with disabilities and aims at alleviating the pressure on public social services where possible, empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential.

“We do this by improving inclusion in schools and support children with the best professional expertise and innovative methods,” added Farrugia.

“This allows them to remain, where it is in their interest, in mainstream education and in lifelong learning.”

But, how can one help Inspire achieve their objectives?

You can try by running or walking with the Inspire Team or volunteering your time during the Malta Marathon to help out manning water stations.

One may obtain more details by phoning 21-890000 or send an email to events@inspire.org.mt.

One can also make a donation via SMS: €2.33 – 50617359; €4.66 – 50618080; €6.99 – 50618962; and €11.65 – 50619215.

Meanwhile, for all those who have applied and have been confirmed for the 2014 Malta Marathon, Half Marathon or Walkathon and are wondering when and from where they are to collect race packs, go to maltamarathon.com/marathon_race_registration_sliema_map.htm.