On Thursday, approximately 100 motorcyclists raised €1,000 for Puttinu Cares during the annual Santa Maria pilgrimage from Mġarr to Dingli.

Now in its seventh year, this event is organized by the parishes of Mġarr and Dingli, both dedicated to Santa Maria.

Mario Micallef, a volunteer with the organizing committee, described the pilgrimage as a blend of devotion to the Madonna, inter-parish solidarity, and an enjoyable activity.

Before the pilgrimage began, Angele Cuschieri and Rennie Zerafa from Puttinu Cares expressed their gratitude to participants and highlighted the ongoing need for funds to support Maltese patients receiving treatment abroad.

The journey commenced in Mġarr with a blessing from Fr Noel Vassallo. The motorcyclists passed through several localities, including Mosta, Attard, Mrieħel, Qormi, Żebbuġ, and Rabat, before arriving at the village square in Dingli.

There, Archpriest David Farrugia welcomed them, leading a prayer and blessing the participants.

Micallef noted the event’s success in bringing people together and celebrating Santa Maria in a distinctive manner.

The feast, celebrated in Mġarr, Dingli, and Żebbuġ in Gozo on the Sunday after August 15, holds historical significance due to the miraculous arrival of the British convoy Operation Pedestal in 1942, which was crucial during World War II.

#MaltaDaily