Updated | Thousands flood streets for President's Fun Run

Streets have been flooded by an ever-increasing number of people who joined this year's edition of the President's Charity Fun Run.

The fifth edition kicked off from the gate of San Anton Palace in Attard this morning. With a new record of nearly 14,500 participants, this edition is one of the biggest fundraisers for L-Istrina. The run takes participants from San Anton Palace to the President's offices in Valletta. Thousands of others chose to walk from Sta Venera to the Palace.

Organised in collaboration with the Malta Amateur Athletics Association, with the theme 'Believe, Achieve, Succeed', athletes left San Anton Palace in Attard for the 7k jog, led by an energetic President George Abela who took time to speak to participants the start line. Mrs Margaret Abela is leading the walk that left from in front of Casa Leone in Santa Venera.

The crowd clad in purple sport the brand colour of Banif Bank, the main sponsor of the event. Led by Banif Bank Chairman Michael Frendo and Chief Executive Officer Joaquim Silva Pinto, a large group of Banif employees and their families were involved in different ways. The Fun Run is Banif's largest social commitment.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami have also joined the event, together with members of parliament and other dignitaries. Children and toddlers have been seen in this all family event. Corporate companies have organised their own groups with Bank Of Valletta fielding 900 of its workers

The event ended with Muscat and Fenech Adami both delivering short speeches. The prime minister thanked President George Abela for his five years as president. In line with yesterday’s Comic Con Muscat presented the president with a cartoon of a ‘man of steel,’ which according to the prime minister provided a fitting tribute to Abela.

PN Deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami thanked the president for being the inspiration behind the event. Dubbing the event as a “feast of solidarity”, Fenech Adami said that it was testament that the country had more to unite the people rather than divide them.

Meanwhile, President George Abela thanked the record 14,500 participants who joined in the event.

The next L-Istrina event is scheduled for next Sunday when the popular Paqpaqli ghal-Istrina motor show will be held at the airport, next to the Lufthansa Hangar.

Updated | Thousands flood streets for President's Fun Run

Thousands of participants have joined the fray for the fifth edition of the President's Fun run, taking joggers from San Anton Palace to the Presidential Palace in Valletta.