53-hour BOV Volleyball Marathon raises €466,688 in aid of Dar tal-Providenza

The BOV Volleyball Marathon, which commenced on Friday and came to a close at midnight on Sunday, raised €466,688 in aid of Dar tal-Providenza.

40 players were selected from a total of 70 applicants, with the challenge involving 53 hours of nonstop volleyball for a noble cause.

The 14th edition of the marathon was inaugurated by President of Malta Myriam Spiteri Debono.

Present for the inauguration ceremony were Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia Portelli, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Deputy Speak and Shadow Minister for Sports David Agius, Spokeswoman of the Opposition for the Inclusion of the Voluntary Sector Graziella Galea, Bank of Valletta (BOV) CEO Kenneth Farrugia, and Siġġiewi Mayor Julian Borg.

In his welcome speech, Dar tal-Providenza Director Martin Micallef while greeting the President of Malta on her first visit to Dar tal-Providenza, said that the commitment of the players and volunteers sends a beautiful message to Maltese society that it is rewarding to give.

He added that it is wonderful to see young people filled with a great sense of generosity and altruism, who are ready to commit themselves in favour of initiatives in favour of people who need some kind of support, solidarity, or help. He reminded that Dar tal-Providenza, which this year is on the threshold of its 60th anniversary, needs a lot of funds to continue offering the residential services it offers to people with disabilities.

“The help that the Maltese and Gozitan people will be giving through this marathon will continue to fill us with the courage to continue this work in the years to come,” he continued.

In her brief address at the opening of the marathon, Dr Spiteri Debono mentioned that “by opening the Dar tal-Providenza nearly 60 years ago, Mikiel Azzopardi filled a significant gap that existed at the time in society by providing care and support for people with disabilities and their families.”

She said that this started to raise public awareness about the importance of providing the necessary help to these people so that they have an opportunity to reach their full potential. Above all, so that they avoid unnecessary suffering. President Spiteri Debono explained that the costs are substantial and constantly increasing and appealed to the generosity of the people of Malta and Gozo.

Mr Farrugia stated that BOV’s relationship with Dar tal-Providenza goes back years, with over 10 years of collaboration, and this year, as part of the bank’s 50th anniversary, BOV is proud to continue building on this relationship.

“As the leading bank in Malta, we are constantly committed in nurturing such partnerships that help the most vulnerable, also as it is one of our main strategic objectives to be more present in our community,” he affirmed.

“The BOV Volleyball Marathon is a clear representation of what makes us Maltese, being there for one another through sport. This marathon also represents the power of volunteering, something which we at BOV are also encouraging with the introduction of the Volunteering Leave for all our employees,” Mr Farrugia said.

Mr Farrugia continued that “Dar tal-Providenza provides a vital service to our community and as BOV we want to continue expanding our work with the community to help all our citizens achieve a better quality of life.”

“We truly hope that this relationship can grow further in the coming years and decades to come, and BOV will keep enhancing its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme through such initiatives for the benefit of the local community,” he said.

BOV Chief Operations Officer (COO) Ernest Agius commented that the bank is “incredibly proud to support the BOV Dar tal-Providenza Volleyball Marathon, a remarkable event that we have been backing for over a decade.”

“Supporting the marathon showcases our commitment to the community in which we operate. We are continuously growing our presence so that we are truly a bank which is made by the people and for the people. This marathon is not just a testament to our community engagement, but also demonstrates our ethos, which emphasises playing an active role in the communities we serve,” he said.

“The work that Father Martin and his team do is invaluable, and we are proud to support such organisations. It is heartening to see our people actively participating as players and volunteers, embodying the spirit of solidarity and service that infuse our CSR efforts and embody our bank’s culture,” Mr Agius said.

During the three days of the marathon, there was live music on the main stage. This included bands Zone 5, Kantera, and Spiteri Lucas Band. The marathon was broadcast on local TV channels, with members of the public donating to Dar tal-Providenza through various means.

Following the event, Father Micallef thanked the donors, players, volunteers, members of the organising committee, sponsors, TV stations which broadcast the marathon, performers, as well as members of the police who all provided assistance.