Watch: Ħamrun Ħanin bringing football clubs together to raise funds for cancer research

Ħamrun Ħanin, the social arm of Premier League champions Ħamrun Spartans, have launched a new initiative aimed at bringing together the football community with the aim of helping persons with social needs.

The project, named Sports Unity, has the specific target of bringing all stakeholders in Maltese football together and work towards a common aim – to help people with different kinds of problems and try and make a difference in society.

“Sport has a central and fundamental role in our society and if used well can bring together everyone in our society,” Ian Debattista, chairman of Ħamrun Ħanin, said in a statement.

“Sport has the ability to bring together people of different nations, cultures and encourage them to work together towards a specific goal. It is a powerful tool that can bring together people from different cultures and mix together without any barriers.

“When one supports a particular football club all differences in culture, nationality or colour of the skin disappears and everyone joins together towards a common goal. This provides us with a great opportunity which we hope to embark through this Sports Unity project.”

Debattista said that during the past two years, Ħamrun Ħanin, started working towards creating a concept of social responsibility in football, and a number of activities in various sectors were done.

“The basic concept is that football and sport in general are effective mediums to unite and open doors to access for new opportunities,” Debattista said.

“Several people will listen more to our message if it is provided by a player, coach or their favourite football team. Thus these played a key role so that we strengthen the communities around us.”

Debattista said that after the success of these initiatives, the plan of Ħamrun Ħanin through the Sports Unity concept is to create an event for all stakeholders in Maltese football and collect funds to help persons in need.

“It is our dream that we bring together all the clubs involved in Maltese football together with the MFPA, MFA, and the Malta Premier League and work towards collecting funds to help persons who need assistance,” Debattista said.

“The main aim of Sports Unity is that once or twice a year we work to organise an event that brings together the whole sporting community and tries and make a difference in our society.

“In the long run, it’s our goal to welcome to our fold other sporting disciplines outside football.”

 Debattista said that the first project of Sports Unity will focus on cancer research.

“We have reached an agreement with RIDT, the centre of research at the University of Malta, to collect funds towards the study on this cruel disease,” Debattista said.

“Our plan is that we collect funds during a special activity, scheduled for November 8 at the Giardini Lambrosa, that will see the participation of players, coaches, technical staff and referees of the Premier League and the Challenge League.

“Apart from collecting money for cancer research, our main goal is to raise awareness on the subject.
“We sincerely hope that all stakeholders will collaborate with us and participate in these activities so that we show that sport can really make a tangible difference in our society.”

Wilfred Kenely, RIDT chief executive of RIDT, heaped praise on Ħamrun Ħanin’s initiative.

“This initiative has more than one significance,” he said.

“It’s a sign of gratitude for the work being carried out in the research sector at the University of Malta. It is also a useful way how the sporting community participate in the research development of cancer, and is also a means for sport and football in particular can unite groups of people that normally compete against each other.

“This unity between clubs has a very noble cause, raising funds for cancer research in Malta. I would like to show my appreciation towards Ħamrun Ħanin, who came out with this idea and I am sure it will turn out to be of great success.”

Minister of Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima welcomed this initiative.

“Sport is a sector which delivers results and brings the community together. Today, we are witnessing how through sport we will move a step forward and join forces for a very noble objective, one which will support further research and knowledge that will deliver improvements in the treatment of cancer to the benefit of patients and society in general,” he said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti explained that “the introduction of the Sports Unity concept is an initiative which brings together all football clubs and other stakeholders to deliver collaborative activities which deliver a positive impact in society”.

Azzopardi Tanti announced that the Cancer Research and Innovation Hub Malta (CRIHM) will be financing a Mobile Unit project which will support initiatives such as Sports Unity by supporting communities, educational institutions and sport activities.

“It will also serve as a source and as a platform for research and to educate communities on health issues while sharing knowledge on prevention and cure. This collaborative initiative complements one of the key roles of the CRIHM which has been launched recently”, Azzopardi Tanti added.