Around 7,000 people took part in the 12th edition of The President’s Solidarity Fun Run around Gozo and Malta in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, led by President George Vella, together with Mrs Vella.
Due to the restrictions in place to control the spread of the pandemic, this long-awaited event by the public this time took place in the form of a walk led by the mayors in 58 towns and villages around Gozo and Malta.
This year’s Fun Run came to an end with a mayors’ gathering at Sant’Anton Palace, during which the President presented them with a token of appreciation. President Vella thanked all those who volunteered to make this event possible despite the pandemic, particularly the local councils and Sport Malta.
He also thanked all the people who responded eagerly to his call. The President said that, on this occasion, we saw the true character of the people of Malta, which is based on the spirit of solidarity and which is not reflected in the reprehensible behaviour such as that witnessed this week.
The President called on the country’s leaders to set an example in order to foster unity among the people.
“The people of Malta have an innate sense of solidarity and we want to be the ones to bring it out and make them express it and show it. When we leaders push the organisation of such activities, the people of Malta will automatically find unity in themselves,” the President said.
He stressed that, ”we must build on such events where one can clearly see that, when it comes to showing solidarity with the poor, when it comes to helping those in need due to illness, the people of Malta will not sit idle.”