Cancer support group funds London accommodation

Another Lm1,831 can be poured into the coffers of the Puttinu Cares Children's Cancer Support Group after Corradino Correctional Facility officials embarked on a fund-raising marathon last month.

The money will be used for the rental of apartments in the UK to accommodate the families of patients undergoing treatment.

Wonderland ward for child oncology patients has started renting out two apartments in London at five minutes' walking distance from Royal Marsden Hospital to assist family members in one of the many ordeals they have to face when they discover their children are suffering from cancer.

Apart from emotional suffering, relatives have to withstand the financial burden of long months of accommodation in the UK while their children are undergoing a transplant or during follow-up visits to the hospital, explained Wonderland ward nurse Rennie Zerafa, who is also the Puttinu Cares funds and activities officer.

The apartments are being rented for a year at a cost of Lm1,000 per month, he said, but the plan was to buy two flats as it would make more economic sense.

As it was, Lm24,000 were being spent on rental. "In a few years, we would have paid the cost of two apartments, but would have nothing in our hands," Mr Zerafa said.

The rental project was a "test", which was proving to be worthwhile as the apartments have not been empty for a single day and have been accommodating two families in each since the start.

"Our fear is that we would not be able to accommodate every family in need. So far, we have been lucky, so to speak, that every time a family needs a home in the UK, another is leaving and the timing has been good."

The support group's next challenge is looking to purchase two four-bedroom apartments over the next three to five years, to cater for two families each and solving the problem permanently. They would cost between $390,000 and $500,000, Mr Zerafa said. Every drop counted... and the initiative of the Corradino Correctional Facility was greatly appreciated.

About 400 persons participated in the run, or walk, from the prison door in Paola to Wonderland at St Luke's Hospital, involving 100 correctional officials and relatives and friends, said prisons director Superintendent Sandro Gatt.

Each participant of We Walk and Run for Puttinu's Smile had to donate Lm2, but some donated more, while even prisoners contributed, although, of course, they could not participate.

The plan was to organise an even "bigger and better" event for the "angels" next year, Superintendent Gatt said.

"Everyone has children... and two prisoners, as well as some prison staff have relatives at Wonderland..." That is how the idea came about.

Puttinu's fund-raising plans in the pipeline include its annual 60-hour football marathon in April, which involves the participation of 400 teams.

Support for Wonderland is huge, Mr Zerafa said, thanking God, while relating the story of a teenage patient who has suffered a relapse and needs a bone marrow transplant urgently after two sessions of chemotherapy.

"We wish that our whole family could be tested for a matching donor to be sure that we have left no stone unturned, but the cost is big and there is no information as to whether family members are more likely to match," said his perturbed mother.

"We feel in the dark about the subject of bone marrow donation and would benefit from expert information on the subject."

The boy, who also lost his father to cancer, is one of the patients who would have to spend six months in the UK if a matching donor is found...

Meanwhile, anxiety levels rise but, at least, the homely and supportive atmosphere in Wonderland serves to ease the pain to a degree.