Animals to benefit from <i>l-Istrina</i>

After years of campaigning, the voice of animal lovers, who dedicate a lot of time and money to caring for strays and abandoned pets, is finally being heard.

Animal organisations are set to receive a fraction of the money donated in this year's edition of l-Istrina, after an animal welfare committee was set up within the Malta Community Chest Fund.

The Community Chest Fund receives 50 per cent of the proceeds from the fund-raising marathon to be shown on the three main TV channels on Saturday.

"We feel it is important to embrace the need to help those who do so much for the animals. Of course, the emphasis of l-Istrina will always remain on those individuals who suffer in silence," President Guido de Marco said yesterday.

He was speaking during a press conference held at Palace Square, in Valletta to exhibit some of the many prizes that can be won during the charity show.

The animal welfare committee will give a percentage of the proceeds to animal organisations or people who contact the Community Chest Fund for help.

Peppi Azzopardi, who together with his team of Where's Everybody? runs l-Istrina, said in a recent interview that plans were underway to organise a mini-Istrina for animals next year.

Prof. de Marco hoped that on Saturday the people will be generous and dig deep in their pockets to attain the ambitious target of Lm1 million.

Fifteen charitable organisations will benefit from this year's l-Istrina: The Community Chest Fund, Eden Foundation, Caritas, Razzett tal-Hbiberija, Djar tal-Knisja Ghal Anzjani, YMCA, the Emigrants' Commission, the Children's Cancer Support Group, The Millennium Chapel, Suret il-Bniedem, the Daniel Delicata Memorial Association, Ghaqda Persuni Neqsin mis-Smiegh, Daritama, Parroquia Sant Tomos Appostolo and the Ghana Mission Foundation.

The prizes include over Lm100,000 worth of gifts and a 1.5 carat solitaire diamond ring, a maisonette in Gozo worth Lm30,000 and numerous weekend breaks.

There are also eight cars to be won including a Ford Fiesta, a Peugeot 206, a Nissan Micra, a Toyota Corolla, a Citroen C2, a Hyundai Accent Exterior 01, a Perodua Kancil and a Kia Rio.