53-hour volleyball marathon in aid of Dar tal-Providenza to start tonight

The marathon will be held in the car park of id-Dar tal-Providenza. Forty players and around 150 volunteer would be taking part during the two and a half-day marathon.

According to the organisers, there were four aims behind this marathon. The first aim was to collect funds so that the service provided by id-Dar tal-Providenza would continue and improve.

The Dar offers a “family atmosphere” to various disabled persons who, for some reason or another, could not continue live with their natural families.

The house also offers a respite service those families of disabled persons so that they can also be given full support so that family members with a disability could continue living in their natural environment.

The Dar tal-Providenza has also started on projects for the inclusion of residents in the community.

The second aim of this marathon was to foster a culture in favour of voluntary work.  The commitment of the players and the volunteers to offer to give their time and all their energy for this marathon should bear witness of the beauty of solidarity that works so that every person in Malta and Gozo could enjoy a better standard of living and equal opportunities for all.

The third aim of this marathon was to encourage sport so that everybody can live a healthier life. The wish of the organisers was that this experience would serve as an opportunity for children, youths and adults to learn about the importance of sport in daily life as well as increasing interest in volleyball.

The message that the Dar tal-Providenza always wanted to pass was that “society always must respect disabled persons and treat them with the dignity that they deserve and offer them the choices and opportunities that everybody should have the right to enjoy”, the organisers of the marathon have said in a message published only a few hours before the beginning of the marathon.