Government donates €50,000 to Puttinu Cares after Good Friday walk cancelled
The charity walk usually sees thousands join annually
Updated at 7.50pm
The annual Puttinu Cares Good Friday walk has been cancelled due to the unsettled weather, with Prime Minister Robert Abela announcing that the government will donate €50,000 to the charity.
The walk, a staple of Malta's Holy Week calendar, sees thousands of people leave Mellieħa at midnight and walk, cycle, or even run to Floriana.
The 20km route takes participants through Xemxija, St Paul's Bay, Mosta, Lija, Birkirkara, Msida and Sa Maison before finishing at the Granaries in Floriana.
Participants pay a €10 fee, with the funds supporting cancer patients and their families, particularly those receiving treatment abroad.
Last year saw a record of 10,000 people undertake the walk.
Yet organisers made the difficult decision to cancel the 21st edition of the Puttinu Cares Good Friday Night Walk due to the bad weather, with forecasts of possible hail.
The Met Office said Maundy Thursday is expected to be dominated by cloudy skies, with rain showers likely throughout the day, some of which may be thundery.
In a statement, Prime Minister Robert Abela said he had been looking forward to joining the annual walk, which brings together thousands of people each year to support cancer patients and their families.
He announced the government will be donating €50,000 to Puttinu Cares, which will come from the Social Causes Fund to help make up for the cancelled activity and continue supporting the organisation's work. The government committed another €50,000 at the telethon.
A spokesperson for Puttinu Cares told Times of Malta that this is the first time the event has been cancelled due to bad weather. He said those who have already paid for the walk and wish to be refunded can do so by visiting the Puttinu office at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre between April 4-6, 8am-12 pm.
The telethon will still take place on Friday, broadcast live on TV stations.