After a week of rain, February 6 was the brightest and stillest of days. The day, marked ‘Jum il-Ħajja’, saw walkers gathering at City Gate, Valletta, for Gift of Life’s sponsored walk.

One could feel the enthusiasm amid the chatter of so many young people, mainly from St Monica’s School in Birkirkara and a Żebbuġ youth group, the ‘regulars’ who join every year as well as new faces – some 200 people in all, with others joining along the way.

Sporting ‘Life’ T-shirts, carrying placards and pink and blue balloons, they blew their whistles – one girl even had a vuvuzela which droned on right through the walk.

The group set off towards Floriana at 9.30 a.m. with a Smart police bike escort clearing the crossings as they headed towards Sliema via Pietà, Msida, Ta’ Xbiex and Gżira seafront through nine stops, representing the nine months spent by the unborn child in the womb.

It was a beautiful walk by the clear blue sea reflecting the cloudless sky above. The group arrived at Bay Street at noon, greeted by Sonic and his music and well-deserved refreshments for the high-spirited walkers, glad to have achieved their walking goal.

The proceeds were for unborn children, that they may be protected from conception and to support women in crisis pregnancies.

GOL raised almost €4,000 and more money is still being donated.