STEPPING OUT
BEST FOOT FORWARD
Main event: Tracy Ann Clifford and Lydia Whitmore at the Xhajma racetrack
Malta and Gozo Mothers’ Union branch has raised money by completing the 5K challenge in their indomitable way - in spite of the pandemic
M
alta and Gozo Mothers’ Union branch have broken a record, in spite of COVID-19. Susan Warner, the branch leader, and her members, managed to raise more than 1,000 euros by creatively repurposing their annual 5K sponsored walk. The branch had to stop face-to-face meetings for the first time in 2020 because of the pandemic. Susan, who joined Mothers’ Union when she lived in the UK, has been supporting members by meeting them individually and facilitating Zoom use. In spite of the circumstances, the members were determined to keep up their annual tradition of the 5K walking challenge. The money raised is used to support local community projects, including providing basic necessities for people in the migrant camps on the islands.
to wear masks, a requirement outside on the islands. One circular walk on Gozo began at the Church of Ta’ Pinu, a national shrine to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, containing mosaics depicting the mystery of the rosary, then took in the tiny village of Ghasri before heading back towards the church. Other walkers used local routes such as the Xhajma racetrack at Xewkija, where branch treasurer Sue Hilton, member Tracy Ann Clifford and supporter Lydia Whitmore were regularly lapped by the horses using the track to exercise, as they completed their walk. Some members wanted to do the 5K in stages. One woman walked to the end of her road and back repeatedly over several days and completed the distance, measuring it on her mobile phone.
A variety of approaches
In total, seven branch members and four of their friends and family completed the challenge and raised 1,046 euros, double the amount of their first walking event. Along with helping local projects, the funds will also be used to support 12 families who receive food parcels, put together and distributed by the branch.
In the past, the 5K walking challenge took place on one day, and larger groups walked together, but in 2020 pandemic restrictions curtailed that. The branch extended the challenge over a few days, and allowed smaller groups. All the walkers who decided to join in had
Supporting locals
GET INVOLVED 2021! We are encouraging members to hold their own 5K Mothers’ Union on the Move events! This can be a singular walk or run on one day, or spread it out over a month. It will be part of our Summer of Hope campaign. More information can be found here: www.mothersunion.org/projects/mu-on-move 48
www.mothersunion.org
